AI Takes Player Performance Analysis to New Dimension

Computer scientists at Loughborough University in the U.K. have developed artificial intelligence algorithms that could revolutionize player performance analysis for football (soccer) clubs. Computer scientists at Loughborough University in the U.K. have developed artificial intelligence algorithms that could revolutionize player performance analysis for football (soccer) clubs. The researchers designed a hybrid system that accelerates and supplements human data entry with camera-based automation to meet demand for timely performance data generated from large amounts of videos. The team applied the latest computer vision and deep learning technologies to identify actions by detecting players' body poses and limbs, and trained the deep neural network to track individual players and capture data on individual performance throughout the match video. Loughborough's Baihua Li said the new technology "will allow a much greater objective interpretation of the game as it highlights the skills of players and team cooperation."