Professional soccer practitioners’ perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment: A category 1 club case study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298346
• Publication Date: 2024-03-07T18:59:07Z
• Authors: Tia-Kate Davidson; Steve Barrett; John Toner; Chris Towlson
• Keywords: Staffing; Relevance

This study aimed to identify professional soccer practitioners’ perceptions of the application performance analysis technology within a single academy club. Secondary aims were understand importance that practitioners place on monitoring technical and tactical player characteristics, current practices, barriers implementing wearable technology. Utilising mixed method design, forty-four (Age = 32 ± 5.8; Years experience 8.5 6.2) completed an online survey intended examine present trends, regarding metrics. Frequency percentages responses for individual items calculated. Subsequently, eleven participants who directly involved with players recruited participate in semi-structured interview. Interview data was transcribed analysed using combination deductive inductive approaches key themes. The main findings across both phases (1) metrics are monitored more frequently matches (Technical: 89%; tactical: 91%) than training 80%; Tactical 64%), predominantly due time constraints staffing numbers. Accordingly, believe it would be beneficial have automated way tracking (79%) (71%) consider foot-mounted IMU do so (technical (68%) (57%)). (2) Monitoring is assist development enrich feedback provision (3) Key stake holders, coaches should informed relevance rationale monitoring. (4) For successful implementation continued uptake, information delivered needs meaningful easy understand. Findings suggest although appreciate need collect metrics, they keen ensure wearable-derived does not replace experiential contextual knowledge. work closely determine contexts which may or prove useful. However, as sample comprised from academy, further studies including warranted. Likewise, future research could also extend include too.