Metrix: Real-time Analysis of Physical Performance Parameters in Elite Soccer

Abstract

In recent years, technology has had a vast impact on the sports industry, particularly in soccer. Elite soccer teams utilize digital information systems to quantify performance metrics, in order to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Applied methods mostly rely on post-game analytics, allowing coaches to review games in retrospect and implement corrections to their team thereafter. However, this method is inadequate in its ability to provide immediate feedback for coach intervention during match or training.

This thesis presents Metrix, a computerized toolkit for coaches to monitor their players during match or practice. The system performs real-time analysis on captured sensor data, used to quantify specific movement patterns of players during games. Performance parameters are instantly available to coaches through the Metrix client, accessible on the field through their mobile devices. Metrix provides coaches with a toolkit to individualize training load to different playing positions on the field, or to the player himself.

Metrix is developed for, and in close collaboration with, the coaches in the elite soccer club TIL. The functionalities our system provides are implemented based on their specified requirements, and further customized to their needs.

This thesis describe the requirement, design and implementation of Metrix. We evaluate the performance of our system, as well as its usefulness to our end-users. Our results show that Metrix is able to quantify player performance parameters and propagate it to coaches, in real-time, during match or practice. The coaches express that this is a valuable asset in day-to-day work.