The Role of Notational Analysis in Soccer Coaching

Abstract

Notational analysis is a technique for producing a permanent record of the events pertaining to a sporting event and is widely used by sports teams and individuals of various standards. This paper discusses how notational analysis can influence the coaching process, giving examples predominantly taken from published literature related to soccer. The conclusions derived from these works are critically appraised and alternative views given. Current issues that are relevant to both researchers and coaches, such as operational definitions and performance over time, are discussed using data collected via collaboration with a professional soccer team. Results are presented in a number of coach-friendly ways including a novel use of a ‘form chart’ using standardised values for performance indicators relative to the opposition's values. Finally, possible future directions in notational analysis research are briefly considered, including fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks.