football science Archives - Football Innovation Hub

04 Jun 100 Minutes Are Not the Same: Why Playing Time Is a Poor Measure of Competitive Load

Posted at 13:25h in Research

For decades, football has relied on a simple assumption: More minutes = more load. Playing time has become the universal currency used to describe player exposure, accumulated fatigue, squad rotation, workload management, and even injury risk. But what if playing time tells us how long a player was...

25 May The Biggest Mistake in Football Physical Analysis? Studying Metrics in Isolation

Posted at 13:04h in Research

For years, football science has tried to answer a seemingly simple question: Does physical performance help teams win football matches? The answers have usually been frustrating. Some studies showed that successful teams covered more high-speed running distance. Others showed no relationship at all. Some even found that losing...

09 Dic When Your Players Go to the World Cup… Do You Lose or Win? The Data Finally Answers

Posted at 12:50h in Research

A question every club faces sooner or later A World Cup approaches.Your players leave with their national teams.Inside the club, two opposing feelings coexist: Pride — because international visibility can elevate a player's market value.Concern — because domestic performance still depends on the same player when they...

26 Sep If you analyze high-intensity running at >21 km/h and >24 km/h, you’re wasting your time—they measure the same thing.

Posted at 12:00h in Research

Picture this: you’re reviewing the GPS report from the latest match. The dashboard splits high-intensity running into two familiar thresholds: above 21 km/h and above 24 km/h. These numbers guide training load, recovery, even tactical plans. But here’s the uncomfortable question: are these two thresholds...

27 Ago Accelerations: The Hidden Metric That Shapes Football Performance

Posted at 14:12h in Research

https://youtu.be/gtm5VtXZo3Q “It’s not how fast you run, but how often you can explode, stop, and repeat.” A coach’s dilemma on the pitch Imagine this: your team dominates possession, but when the decisive moments arrive, the opposition outruns you—not in total distance, but in how quickly and often they...

06 Ago “Your Game or Theirs?”

Posted at 13:14h in Research

Does your team consistently impose its playing style? This post explores how to measure tactical identity through passing networks and data science, based on innovative research by LALIGA’s Football Intelligence & Performance Department. Learn which teams are most consistent, how to assess your own style, and...

football science Tag