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Workshops & seminars

Andreas Bancheri - MSc Thesis Defence

Exploration of Throw-Ins in Soccer Using Machine Learning Algorithms


Date & time
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Cost

This event is free

Contact

Debbie Arles
Ext. 3250

Where

J.W. McConnell Building
1400 De Maisonneuve W.
Room 921-04

Wheel chair accessible

Yes

Speaker:  Andreas Bancheri (MSc)

Abstract:

The evolving field of sports analytics is still in the early stages of its adoption. Moreover, soccer analytics utilizing tracking data is even further limited. This research is motivated by Liverpool's integration of a department for throw-in research, assisting them in winning a league title. This research project makes use of the (generously given) German national soccer team (DFB) tracking and event data which includes all player movement during a game, and more specifically, movement before and after a throw-in.

The probability of a throw-in being completed (according to two mutually exclusive definitions) is estimated using various metrics developed using the aforementioned tracking and event data. Binary classification models are used to estimate the completion probability of a given throw-in. The results show that the model provides an encouraging framework of achieving the goal of a universal throw-in metric. Therefore, any given throw-in may be evaluated, providing a meaningful tool to soccer teams, in the footsteps of xG (expected goal) or xPass (expected pass) models.

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