Mastery in Goal Scoring, T-Pattern Detection, and Polar Coordinate Analysis of Motor Skills Used by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - PubMed (original) (raw)
Mastery in Goal Scoring, T-Pattern Detection, and Polar Coordinate Analysis of Motor Skills Used by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Marta Castañer et al. Front Psychol. 2017.
Abstract
Research in soccer has traditionally given more weight to players' technical and tactical skills, but few studies have analyzed the motor skills that underpin specific motor actions. The objective of this study was to investigate the style of play of the world's top soccer players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and how they use their motor skills in attacking actions that result in a goal. We used and improved the easy-to-use observation instrument (OSMOS-soccer player) with 9 criteria, each one expanded to build 50 categories. Associations between these categories were investigated by T-pattern detection and polar coordinate analysis. T-pattern analysis detects temporal structures of complex behavioral sequences composed of simpler or directly distinguishable events within specified observation periods (time point series). Polar coordinate analysis involves the application of a complex procedure to provide a vector map of interrelated behaviors obtained from prospective and retrospective sequential analysis. The T-patterns showed that for both players the combined criteria were mainly between the different aspects of motor skills, namely the use of lower limbs, contact with the ball using the outside of the foot, locomotion, body orientation with respect to the opponent goal line, and the criteria of technical actions and the right midfield. Polar coordinate analysis detected significant associations between the same criteria included in the T-patterns as well as the criteria of turning the body, numerical equality with no pressure, and relative numerical superiority.
Keywords: goal scoring; motor skills; pattern detection; polar coordinate analysis; soccer.
Figures
Figure 1
Formation of a T-pattern from a simple T-pattern (first line) to more complex ones, such as the T-pattern at the bottom (Castañer et al., , p. 859).
Figure 2
Graphic depiction of relationships between conditional and given behaviors in polar coordinate maps according to the quadrant in which the vector is located (Castañer et al., , p. 5.).
Figure 3
Messi and Ronaldo event-type frequency chart.
Figure 4
T-pattern shows that (a) Messi touches the ball with his left foot (LF) with the outside of this foot (OU) while facing the rival goal line (FG), tricking defenders by changing direction (DIF) in the right midfield (CR); then, (b) he continues to touch the ball with his left foot (LF) with a left body angle with respect to the rival goal line (OL) and dribbles the ball (CD) while remaining in the right midfield (CR); and then, (c) he maintains his left body angle (OL), takes three steps between touches of the ball (THR) and remains in the right midfield (CR).
Figure 5
T-pattern shows that (a) Ronaldo is facing the rival goal line (FG), takes more than five steps between touches of the ball (MOR) in the left midfield (CL); then, (b) he changes to facing right with respect to the rival goal line (OR) and takes three steps between touches of the ball (THR) while remaining in the left midfield (CL); and (c) he uses his right foot (RF), remaining facing right with respect to the rival goal line (OR), while remaining in the left midfield (CL).
Figure 6
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Body Part criterion.
Figure 7
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Foot Contact Zone criterion.
Figure 8
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Body Orientation criterion.
Figure 9
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Locomotion criterion.
Figure 10
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Side criterion.
Figure 11
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Technical Actions criterion.
Figure 12
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Stability (turn direction) criterion.
Figure 13
Maps of polar coordinate analysis for the Centre of the Game criterion.
References
- Afonso J., Garganta J., Mesquita I. (2012). Decision-making in sports: the role of attention, anticipation and memory. Rev. Bras. Cineantropom. Desempenho. Hum. 14, 592–601. 10.5007/1980-0037.2012v14n5p592 -DOI
- Anguera M. T. (1979). Observational typology. Qual. Quant. 13, 449–484.
- Anguera M. T. (2003). Observational methods, in Encyclopedia of Psychological Assessment, Vol. 2, ed Fernández-Ballesteros R.(London: Sage; ), 632–637.
- Anguera M. T. (1997). “From Prospective Patterns in Behavior to Joint Analysis with a Retrospective Perspective,” in Colloque sur invitation “Méthodologie d'Analyse des Interactions Sociales”. Paris: Université de la Sorbona.
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources