Uncovering Soccer Teams Passing Strategies Using Implication Rules

TL;DR

This paper introduces an FCA-based method to analyze soccer team passing strategies by identifying frequent passing sequences through implication rules, viewing passes as a social network.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel application of Formal Concept Analysis to uncover passing strategies in soccer, utilizing implication rules and the DG basis.

Findings

Identified frequent passing sequences in soccer teams

Applied FCA to model passes as social networks

Demonstrated the effectiveness of implication rules in sports analysis

Abstract

Formal Concept Analysis FCA has seen application in different knowledge areas, including Social Network Analysis SNA. In turn, research has also shown the applicability of SNA in assessing team sports. In this project, to uncover frequent passing sequences of a soccer team, an FCA based approach is introduced. The approach relies on a minimum cover of implications, the Duquenne Guigues DG basis and the notion that a soccer teams passes describe a social network.