Characterization of match analysis process in Portuguese first football league teams: season 2005/2006

Abstract

Nowadays, the competitive level achieved by professional football has required performance levels to increase highly. Match analysis is one of the tools that has been used to control performance. The aim of this work was to characterise match analysis process of 1st portuguese football league teams. The goals of this study were those of knowing: 1) the importance of match analysis; 2) the frequency of its accomplishment; 3) the professionals involved; 4) the instruments and systems used; and 5) the importance given to different axes of analysis. The sample was set up of sixteen coaches from the 1st Portuguese professional football 2005/06 league (89% of the universe taken for study). To each coach it was applied a questionnaire previously ratified by eight specialists. The obtained results revealed that match analysis seems to acquire its pertinence in planning strategic and tactic dimensions. Agreeing with this idea, the elected dimensions of analysis are related with strategy and tactics. The less appreciated dimensions of analysis are related with time-motion analysis. It seems to be usual to use an instrument with predefined categories. The coach is the match analysis protagonist of his own team and confers the duty of scouting opponent teams to a member of the technical staff. The analysis systems used aren't sophisticated and only a minority admits to use computerised technologies. In summary, in the mentioned league the process of match analysis is sistematized and focuses mainly on tactical and strategic aspects of the game. However, despite being used instruments with predefined categories, the analysis systems used are unsophisticated.