Giving answers or educating? : Evaluation of an automated tracking system and its possibilities to educate game intelligence in Swedish elite football players.

Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate an automated tracking system and its possibilities to increase knowledge and awareness (future described as educate) in game intelligence among Swedish male elite football players. The study involved both qualitative and quantitative aspects. The quantitative part consisted of observing offensive passes performed by three male players, average age 25.3 (±1.5) years, weight 75.7 (±2.1) kg and height 181 (±4.4) cm. All of the players offensive passes were judged and categorized, based on criteria by the practitioner with footballing knowledge and by the automated tracking system. Pass probability (PP) and pass probability times pass impact (PP x PI) was observed since they indicate the possibility for a pass to succeed but also its impact, which could be associated with the game intelligence ability, knowledge of situational probability. The results showed a significant association (p<0.05) between PP and PP x PI. Hence, the null hypothesis could be rejected. Additionally, pass probability (PP) was a more accurate method than pass probability times pass impact (PP x PI) and results also showed that the players made more accurate decisions than the automated tracking system. The qualitative part of the study consisted of three recorded sessions with the player, where the automated tracking system was used as an educational tool. The players were shown different situations which they then discussed. Results indicated that most of the player quotes could be associated to visual search behavior (n=24). Although, an improved automated tracking system was used, there are still limitations with the automated tracking systems accuracy which could affect the results. This article provides a very preliminary step in the study of automated tracking systems as an educational tool and suggests an approach based on discussions with players, rather than only relying on answers given by the automated tracking system. However, the research area within automated tracking systems is relatively unexplored and results should be interpreted with caution. Therefore, future studies are necessary to determine how much an automated tracking system could improve game intelligence.