Playermaker LABs - Innovation and the Research Community

Research Resources

Research is vital to develop knowledge and create a platform for innovation. We are committed to developing resources to inform action in the research community and for practitioners in the industry. Together, we can share, collaborate and educate to improve biomechanics and sport.

Change of Direction Analysis Using Foot-Mounted Sensors

Current match analysis is mostly based on velocity and accelerations in a linear model, while running forward in a straight line. In this article a new layer of analysis is introduced: Turns and change of directions. These elements were chosen due to their significance in analyzing athlete motion in a dynamic sport such as football.

Authors:

Yoav Wegrzyn | Dr. Eran Amit | Moran Gad | Dr. Steve Barrett

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Quantifying Technical Actions In Professional Soccer Using Foot-mounted Inertial Measurement Units

This study aimed to (i) establish the concurrent validity and intra-unit reliability of a foot-mounted inertial measurement unit for monitoring soccer technical actions, (ii) quantify the within-microcycle inter-positional differences in the technical actions of professional soccer training, and (iii) determine the influence of drill category on the technical actions of professional soccer training.

Authors:

Joshua Marris | Dr. Steve Barrett | Grant Abt | Chris Towlson

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A New Foot-mounted Inertial Measurement System in Soccer: Reliability and Comparison to Global Positioning Systems for Velocity Measurements During Team Sport Actions

Journal of Human Kinetics

The validity and reliability of a number of commercially available systems in measuring velocitybased metrics have been described (Akenhead et al., 2014; Buchheit et al., 2014; Coutts and Duffield, 2010;Varley et al., 2012), thus providing an understanding of the application and limitations of GPSs in a team sports context. A common limitation among these studies has been the validity and reliability of GPS devices to measure high- and variable-velocity movements in smaller areas. Notably, the accuracy of rapid accelerations (> 3 m/s2) is consistently compromised when using GPS devices of varying specifications (Akenhead et al., 2014; Buchheit et al., 2014). Low sampling rates (Varley et al., 2012), the positioning of the device (Barrett et al., 2014, 2016), quality of the satellite signal (Karaim and Aboelmagd, 2018) and inconsistencies within the data processing (Buchheit et al., 2014; Varley et al., 2017), have been suggested to contribute to the error of GPS devices.

Authors:

Dr. Mark Waldron |Dr. Steve Barrett |Jamie Harding | Adrian Gray

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Development And Validity Of The Playermaker Ball-touch Classification

Kicking and ball interactions are a key component of some team sports such as football (soccer), Australian Rules Football (AFL), American Football (NFL) and both Rugby Union and League (Lees et al., 2010). The interaction with the ball is dependent on the sport but is representative of a method to score more goals/points than an opponent. In football (soccer), the technical and tactical statistics of kicking are regularly used to measure performance indices including a breakdown of the number of passes, shots and crossing performed by one team against another (Barnes et al., 2014; Liu et al., 2015). These actions are currently used by coaches, performance analysts and scouting/recruitment departments, in order to assess a team and individual players performance within a given situation (Yi et al., 2019). The aim of this study was to assess the concurrent validity and development of a ball touch classification as measured by a Playermaker device.

Authors:

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Development And Validity Of An Accelerometer-based Velocity Profile Using Playermaker

Time motion analysis data has been used extensively throughout different sports in order to quantify the external loads of an individual athlete (Cardinale & Varley, 2017; Malone et al., 2020; Vanrenterghem et al., 2017). These metrics have been calculated using manual coding, video analysis (Reilly, 1976), semi-automated camera systems (Di Salvo et al., 2007; Bradley et al., 2009) and global positioning system devices (GPS; Aughey et al., 2010; Harley et al., 2010; Malone et al., 2020). Positioning data from GPS worn within a manufacturer vest between the scapulae commonly measure variables such as total and distances covered in a variety of locomotor classifications or speed zones (Rampinini et al., 2007; Reilly & Thomas, 1976). Using these data points is simple and easy to use. However, GPS derived data can be interfered with in poor satellite coverage areas such as large stadiums and indoor sessions. The aim of the study was to develop and assess the validity of time motion analysis data using Playermaker.

Authors:

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PRESENTATIONS AND OPINION ARTICLES

The Effect of Bio-Banding and Pitch Size on Differential Ratings of Perceived Exertion (dRPE)

The research group is currently examining the efficacy of ‘bio-banding’ for talent identification in professional academies. It is possible there may be an interaction between players maturity and game constraints. The aim of the paper is to investigate the effect of pitch size and maturity status on perceived exertion.

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Technical Performance Analysis in Elite Training Sessions

Dr. Steve Barrett (Senior Sport Scientist of Hull City) and Josh Marris (Assistant) presenting on how Hull City are using the system to aid them in their technical performance analysis.

Monitoring Athletes Remotely To Support The Team Goals

Physical activity is a key staple in most of our lives for those that are involved in sports. We are able to freely take part in organised activities whether that be in a group, as part of an organisation or even set activities prescribed to us by our coaches. To help provide feedback to coaches on performance, wearable technology has been developed to provide insights to explore unique data points specific to the demands of our training and matches. The underlying aim of all this technology is to support practitioners in improving their athletes performance, while reducing the risk of injury to the individual, thus supporting the teams need to be ready for competition.

Author:

Steve Barrett, PhD

From the Lab to the Field: Controlled and Chaotic Environments!?

Gait parameters traditionally measured only in lab environments can now be reported within multiple environments using Playermaker. Extracting contact time based metrics from uncontrolled environments such as matches may provide insights into players’ response to soccer specific fatigue, when velocity is accounted for.

Author:

Eran Amit | Shai Rosenblit | Amir Zviran | Moran Gad | Steve Barrett

Back to New Ordinary Of Sport

We are now united, fighting to flatten the curve and save millions of lives. We will win – we are in the business of winning, there is no doubt that we will also get this game finished. Research and the numbers in the eastern part of the world that have been fighting COVID for fewer more months show that it teaches us that there is a way to gain control. Yet we are expecting long months until we have a vaccine or any other reasonable and reliable solution.

Author:

Guy Aharon, CEO

Dr. Waldron Presenting Playermaker at the BASES Conference

A comparison of a Sports-Specific, foot-mounted inertial measurement system and three commercial Global Positioning Systems to Quantify Soccer-Specific Movement Patterns presented by Dr. Mark Waldron at the Bases Conference.

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Assessing the Mechanical Work and Associated Neuromuscular Responses of Typical High-Intensity Interval Training Sequences: New Insights From The Foot

The popularity of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which consists primarily of repeated short to long bursts of high-intensity exercise, continues to soar because its effectiveness and efficiency have been proven in use by both elite athletes and general fitness enthusiasts (Laursen & Buchheit, 2018).

Authors: Dr. Steve Barrett and Martin Buchheit

Ongoing Collaboration

We support PhD students and practitioners to conduct research projects with our Playermaker technology. We encourage you to collaborate with us to develop the football industry as a whole.

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NORWICH CITY F.C

FULHAM F.C ACADEMY

UNIVERSITY OF HULL

Research with us!

We support PhD students and practitioners to conduct research projects with our Playermaker technology. We encourage you to collaborate with us to develop the football industry.