17 Sep Improving Accuracy in Acceleration Analysis in Professional Football: A New Approach Based on Initial Speed
Data analysis in football has evolved significantly in recent years, allowing teams not only to optimize their performance but also to make specific adjustments to players’ physical preparation. Among the many metrics used to evaluate physical performance in a match, accelerations play a key role. However, traditional acceleration analysis may be overlooking important aspects, especially regarding the player’s initial speed. In this article, we’ll explore how Mediacoach has implemented a more precise approach to measuring accelerations and decelerations by considering this crucial factor.
The Traditional Approach: Fixed Thresholds for Accelerations
Historically, physical performance analysis in football has used fixed thresholds to measure accelerations and decelerations. A common example is considering only accelerations that exceed 3 m/s². While this approach may seem effective, it doesn’t adequately reflect the actual effort a player exerts in real match situations.
For example, an acceleration from a low speed, such as 2 km/h, that exceeds 3 m/s² will be recorded in the analysis. However, an acceleration from a high initial speed, such as 21 km/h, that doesn’t reach the threshold (e.g., 2.95 m/s²) will not be recorded, even though the latter requires much more effort.
This means that traditional analysis may be underestimating more intense physical demands and overestimating those that require less effort. This approach oversimplifies the reality of the game, leaving out critical data that could enhance our understanding of player performance.
The New Approach at Mediacoach: Considering Initial Speed
To improve accuracy in the analysis of accelerations and decelerations, Mediacoach has implemented a model that takes into account the player’s initial speed before an acceleration or deceleration occurs. This approach allows us to more accurately capture the real effort a player exerts at any given moment during the match.
Why Does Initial Speed Matter?
The initial speed significantly affects the effort a player needs to accelerate or decelerate. Here’s why:
- Accelerations from high speeds:
- When a player accelerates from a high speed, such as 21 km/h, the energy required to continue accelerating is much greater due to aerodynamic drag and the muscular effort involved. However, an acceleration that doesn’t exceed 3 m/s² under this scenario may be missed in traditional analysis, underestimating the player’s effort.
- Accelerations from low speeds:
- Conversely, an acceleration from a low initial speed, such as 2 km/h, that exceeds 3 m/s² will be recorded in traditional analysis, even though the energy required is much lower compared to an acceleration from a high speed.
The Impact on Analysis Accuracy
By incorporating initial speed into the measurement of accelerations, we can more precisely identify when a player exerts intense effort, even if the acceleration itself doesn’t reach the traditional 3 m/s² threshold. This model also prevents overvaluing smaller accelerations that, although exceeding the threshold, don’t require as much effort due to the low initial speed.
A Practical Example
Let’s consider two scenarios during a match:
- Scenario 1: A player running at 21 km/h (5.83 m/s) accelerates at 2.95 m/s² over one second. Although this acceleration doesn’t reach the traditional threshold of 3 m/s², the effort required is significant due to the high initial speed and aerodynamic drag.
- Scenario 2: Another player running at 2 km/h (0.56 m/s) accelerates at 3.01 m/s². This action would be counted in traditional analysis, even though the effort required is significantly lower.
With Mediacoach’s new approach, both scenarios are correctly evaluated based on the player’s real effort, taking initial speed into account. This way, accelerations that require significant effort are not overlooked, and those with lower demands are not overvalued.
The Importance of HMLD: Taking Physical Effort Analysis a Step Further
In addition to acceleration analysis, another key metric that provides a broader view of a player’s physical demands in a match is the High Metabolic Load Distance (HMLD). This metric refers to the distance a player covers when energy consumption exceeds 25.5 W/kg and includes both speed and the accelerations and decelerations performed by the player.
HMLD not only measures the distance covered at high speed but also the energy expenditure associated with changes in speed, making it a powerful tool for evaluating overall physical performance. However, it’s important to note that HMLD doesn’t differentiate between accelerations from low or high speeds. Therefore, complementing HMLD analysis with the new acceleration measurement based on initial speed provides a much more complete and accurate approach.
Conclusion: A New Standard in Football Analysis
Integrating initial speed into acceleration analysis in Mediacoach represents a significant advancement in how we understand and evaluate physical effort in professional football. This approach allows for more precise and fair measurement of player performance, which in turn helps optimize training and effort management during matches.
With this change, we aim to contribute to greater accuracy in performance analysis and, ultimately, to better performance from teams and players at the elite level of football.
? Interested in learning more about the HMLD concept? You can access the full study at the following link: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13318