Dynamic zoning in the course of gis-based football game analysis

Abstract

This paper is one of a series of articles about GIS-based game analysis in association football and presents an approach to dynamic zoning of football pitches based upon the players’ movements. For this purpose, tracking data are employed, which were kindly provided by ProzoneSports. Since football is highly dynamic, spaces are constantly changing over the entire game’s period. Therefore, it is reasonable to capture these alterations in the team’s use of space and to analyse them. In order to do so a Python script which automatically trisects the pitch vertically in a defenders’, midfielders’, and forwards’ zone was developed. It can be executed as a custom tool in ArcGIS and determines the zones’ height, width and area. Furthermore, its functionality can be considered the basis for manifold analysis opportunities. To provide an example, in the paper’s second part another custom tool for ArcGIS is presented, which applies the conception of dynamic zoning for analysing the teams’ offensive qualities based upon the defenders’ zone’s vertical height. This paper’s overall objective is to highlight the benefits of dynamic zoning in the course of football game analyses. Moreover, the demonstration of the tools’ functionality is intended to foster the discussion about the presented conception’s methodological principles as well as its potential application areas. In addition to this, an expert survey was conducted interviewing professional game analysts from Austria and Germany. The results provide evidence that the conception of dynamic zoning is worth to refine, as it provides a novel approach of analysing the game.