The Importance Of Match Analysis In Football

Introduction

It is well known that tactical, technical and physical match performance of elite football athletes have been broadly studied (Bradley & Noakes, 2013; Bradley et al., 2009; Rampinini, Coutts, Castagna, Sassi, & Impellizzeri, 2007; Rampinini, et al., 2009). Match analysis in football has allowed a greater insight into the tactical, technical and physical attributes of the game with the ever-growing evolution of the technological system (Sarmento et al., 2014). At the elite level, semi-automatic video match analysis such as Prozone (Prozone Sports Ltd® Leeds, UK) offers a simultaneous analysis of the technical actions, patterns of play and the physical efforts of football players.

When matches are analysed, practitioners focus on

During match play, players cover on average 10-13 km of total distance (Bradley et al., 2009; Mohr, Krustup & Bangsbo 2003). Although, the large proportion of the distance that is covered is done so with low intensity actions which are accountant for 85.4% of total game time, with 59.3% representing walking and 26.1% for jogging (Bradley et al., 2009) therefore having a limited energy turnover required. However, researchers are usually more attentive to running performance at high intensity as HIR is expected to occur in the vital moments of match play and researchers can determine the characteristics of the

However, process of individualisation for speed threshold when evaluating HIR should be considered for additional enhancement of validity and reliability in the data. Many studies set HIR speed threshold at > 14.4 km/h (Bradley et al, 2009, 2013) or > 15 km/h (Mohr et al. 2003) and compared the HIR performance across the 90 minutes game. These speed thresholds may not be suitable for certain individuals as it can be ever so strenuous to reach the threshold with their natural physical capability. It could create an obstruction of detailed running performance being demonstrated. Bradley et al., (2013) also supported that the speed threshold should be modified on players physical capability. Practitioners should conduct physical tests and have individualised tests conducted on their player’s running performance throughout a match as, individualisation of speed threshold is a critical aspect especially for, non-elite, female and youth