Using a Situation Awareness Approach to Identify Differences in the Performance Profiles of the World’s Top Two Squash Players and Their Opponents
Purpose The pressure exerted on a squash player is a consequence of the quality of a shot coupled with the ability of the player to return the ball, namely, the coupling of the two players’ situation awareness (SA) abilities. SA refers to an awareness of all relevant sources of information, the ability to synthesize this information using domain knowledge and the ability to physically respond to a situation. Methods Matches involving the two best players in the world (n = 9) at the 2011 Rowe British Grand Prix, held in Manchester, United Kingdom were recorded and processed using Tracker software. Shot type, ball location, players’ positions on court and movement parameters between the time an opponent played a shot prior to the player’s shot to the time of the opponent’s following shot were captured 25 times per second. All shots (excluding serves and rally ending shots) produced five main SA clusters, similar to those presented by Murray et al. (2018), except a greater proportion of shots were categorized in the greater pressure clusters and less in the lower pressure ones. Results Individual matches were presented using cluster performance profile infographics which demonstrated how individual player’s performance profiles differed between matches. Conclusion It is suggested that it is the coupling, of the two player’s behaviors, that makes the examination of tactics so challenging. This inherently means that performance profiles vary in subtle ways, making consistent profiles that are independent of the opponent very unlikely for elite players. This approach should be further modified to determine within match changes in performance.
Using network science to unveil badminton performance patterns
Abstract Bipartite networks are related to non-linear and ecological approaches where, at least, two different kinds of entities are considered. In sports, we can consider players as entities that base their decisions (actions and reactions) on opponents and their own actions. Incorporation of bipartite networks into modelling of racket sport performances may bridge the gap between the performance analysis sub-discipline and coaches for greater preparation of training sessions and competitions for enhanced success. Thus, the main aim of this study was to create badminton stroke networks (BSN), from the match activities of a player and their opponents, to describe and quantify the performance of elite Olympic badminton players. The use of a Network Science approach required the development of a series of methodologies that accounted for strokes played by all medallists within an Olympic tournament and included: (i) the construction of BSN; (ii) the one-mode projections of bipartite networks (self- and opponent- networks); (iii) the centrality of one-mode projections; and (iv) the identifiability of badminton players. The BSN identified different playing patterns for medallists with the Silver medallist categorised with the less predictable and defined style of play, the Bronze medallist exhibiting the most defined style; and the Gold medallist exhibiting the greatest predictability, but only when losing points (self-networks). The use of Network Science enabled the identification of distinctive styles of play (self- and opponent–related), based on stroke performance, during successful and unsuccessful points within an Olympic tournament. Specifically, the identifiability of each player's network and its associations with point outcome, provided a better understanding of stroke performances and individual features of world-class badminton players. The use of non-linear approaches (such as bipartite networks) to measure and visualize player's performances, accounting for the specific nature of badminton and opponents, may support coaches and players with the contextualized demands of playing patterns and their performances (i.e., winning and losing points) for future success.
What is Enlightenment
Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's own mind without another's guidance. Dare to know! (Sapere aude.) "Have the courage to use your own understanding," is therefore the motto of the enlightenment.