At last week’s excellent Training Ground Guru Live, there was a lot of talk about the critical element of "scanning" - the process where a player constantly assesses their surroundings to make informed decisions on the pitch.
In this blog, we'll delve into the fascinating intersection of sport science and data considerations in the context of scanning in football.
The Importance of Scanning
Scanning, sometimes referred to as "checking your shoulders" or "checking your surroundings," is the practice of players looking over their shoulders and around them to gain a better understanding of the game's dynamics. This involves identifying the positions and movements of teammates, opponents, and the ball. Scanning is crucial for a variety of reasons:
Awareness: Scanning enhances a player's awareness of what's happening on the pitch. It helps them assess the evolving situations and adapt their actions accordingly.
Decision-Making: By scanning, players can make informed decisions, whether it's deciding to pass, dribble, or shoot. It is integral to decision-making under pressure.
Positioning: Scanning aids in positioning, enabling players to find open spaces, evade defenders, and anticipate the movement of teammates and opponents.
Spatial Intelligence: Scanning develops a player's spatial intelligence. It helps in understanding the flow of the game, exploiting spaces, and anticipating movements.
The Role of Sport Science
In recent years, sport science has played a significant role in understanding and enhancing scanning in football. This is accomplished through the following avenues:
Eye-Tracking Technology: Eye-tracking technology has allowed researchers to gain insights into where players direct their gaze while on the pitch. This information helps trainers and coaches understand the scanning patterns of different players, enabling them to design specific training exercises to improve scanning skills.
Cognitive Training: Cognitive training, including working memory and visual recognition exercises, can improve a player's ability to process information quickly and effectively. This aids in faster decision-making, a crucial aspect of scanning.
Biomechanics: Biomechanical analysis is used to study a player's head and body movement while scanning. This information can be used to optimize a player's scanning technique for maximum efficiency and minimal impact on performance.
Data Considerations
As we’ve considered previously here at SSA, the use of data in football has increased significantly in recent years, and scanning is no exception with multiple data points readily available in the study of scanning:
Tracking Data: Player tracking data, obtained from devices and sensors on the players, can provide a wealth of information about a player's movements, including how often they scan and in which directions. This data helps teams identify scanning patterns and assess player performance.
Video Analysis: Video analysis tools are crucial for reviewing scanning behavior during matches. Coaches and analysts can review footage to pinpoint moments where scanning was effective or could have been improved. This visual data aids in developing targeted training plans.
Performance Metrics: The collection of performance metrics can help in quantifying a player's scanning proficiency. Metrics like "time spent scanning," "average number of scans per minute," and "successful decisions after scanning" can provide valuable insights.
Brand association
It was clear while sitting at #TGGLive that there are lots of options for brand association in an area such as scanning.
SSA have worked closely with well known brands such as Vodafone, EA Sports and Welsh Rugby in recent times and has experience of establishing an association between a commercial entity and a feature of sport.
In this instance, it would seem an open goal for an optical brand to develop significant brand association through a close association and position itself as a symbol of precision, accuracy, and vision.
Such a partnership could also enhance the brand's credibility, fostering trust among players and fans and connect emotionally with the sport's passionate community, fostering long-lasting customer loyalty and brand recognition.
Sport Science Agency uses its insight and expertise to tell performance stories and unlocks their value for brands, broadcasters and rights holders. To see some of our work click here If you want to know more about what we can do for you, drop us a note via info@sportscienceagency.com and we can arrange to go for a healthy vitamin packed drink.