It was an indelible sight for any football lover when Manchester City’s star midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne, with a noticeable limp, crossed the touchline and fell into the arms of Josep Guardiola Sala (popular as Pep Guardiola), the team’s manager, during the 2023 Champions League final. Guardiola had hugged him tight.
At this point, little did De Bruyne, a Belgian, know that it would be one of his last appearances on the field donning Manchester City’s jersey in 2023. Reason: Two months later, in the opening match of the 2023-24 Premier League season, he had reinjured his hamstring and remained off the field for the next five months.
De Bruyne returned to the pitch in January, the Belgium captain again asked for time off from the national team (Belgium) to be able to take care of his body. He was on course to return to action in mid-October. From this episode, it is quite evident that injury crisis often leaves teams, coaches, players and medical staff searching for answers: Fewer games, modified schedules or expanded medical support?
In such a scenario, technology is coming to the rescue of sports and sportspersons in the modern era. The industry continues to turn towards technology for such answers. And, what’s more advanced than Artificial Intelligence (AI)? More and more clubs and national teams are turning to machine learning to help with early detection and injury management to try to get a grip on the injury crisis and boost performances.
HOW CAN AI BE OF HELP?
Artificial intelligence has several innovations on offer for every industry and football is no exception. This advanced technology can be useful in gathering and interpreting player data, analysing their and performances in real-time. It also has the potential to assist in athlete recovery and injury management. The AI tools can be used by club managers and medical staff to make more informed decisions, when it comes to training of players or during match-day selection. But, can AI predict injuries?
Well, it is quite impossible to predict injuries but one can use the data to understand the risk and vulnerabilities and make wise decisions to be able to modify the training regime. If the coaches know the risk and its context, they can select players based on the data available in this regard.
WEARABLE AID HELPS TO LEARN
About muscle fatigue
For example, AI can analyze blood, urine, sweat, sleep, diet and hydration and help the staff learn about the overall condition of a player. There are wearable AI-powered devices that can reveal how much a player has run, how fatigued his or her muscles are, their biomechanical movements and how much oxygen has been pumped through his or her blood. If these parameters are not found to be satisfactory, a player can be pulled or benched before an injury gets worse.
PATH TO RECOVERY
AI can help a player on their path to recovery. It can provide more accurate markers, indicating as to when the player can return to the pitch. Virtual reality or computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment also facilitates a player’s return to sports. In football, players can replicate or practice specific movements in a controlled environment. This can help them test their availability without putting them in a high-risk scenario. Experts believe that VR may provide a reliable and convenient solution to replicating complex scenarios that athletes typically face. For instance, Orreco is one of the leaders in the space. It combines AI and bio-analytics to optimize performance and accelerate recovery. Orreco’s statisticians and sport scientists use AI to identify risk profiles from athlete training sessions, physiological data, match performance, travel schedules, styles of play, environmental conditions and recovery times.
WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF AI IN MANAGEMENT?
Many experts believe that the injury crisis in football will “continue to have a domino effect” if artificial intelligence is not used or opted for. What’s happening today is that extra load is being put on those players who aren’t injured. This is being done to cover for the ones who are injured. As a result, those players get injured too due to excessive load on them from the demand. So, once a club gets a few injuries, it spirals into a lot more. But, if AI is opted for, these issues will reduce. The team coaches and managers will be able to take appropriate decisions based on the health parameters and fitness of all players.
HERE ARE SOME USEFUL OPTIONS:
Catapult Sports (catapultsports.com):
It is a global leader in sports performance, offering sensor-based solutions for team and individual sports. Their tools allow to measure effort, endurance, movements and other metrics in real time. AI could identify atypical movements, predict potential injury risks and adjust training recommendations for each player in real time.
STATSports (statsports.com):
STATSports is a mainstay in providing GPS tracking devices for top sports teams. These devices accurately measure speed, distance travelled, acceleration, and other vital parameters. With AI, this data could be analyzed instantly during training, allowing trainers to receive live tactical suggestions based on each player’s performance.
Wyscout (wyscout.com):
Wyscout is a reference for football professionals. This platform provides detailed match analysis, helping clubs study player performances, spot talent and prepare for matches. By integrating AI, it would be possible to automate much of this analysis, allowing trainers to receive insights more quickly and detect trends or patterns in the opponent’s play.
Soccerment (soccerment.com):
Soccerment turns raw soccer statistics into actionable insights. Their analysis allow clubs and scouts to better understand player performance. With AI, this platform could anticipate performance trajectories, assessing a player’s future potential or forecasting a team’s performance based on current data.
SciSports (scisports.com):
This company is already at the forefront of technology with its data-driven approach to evaluating talent and performance. It provides data-driven analytics to help clubs with their recruitment and strategy decisions. By integrating AI, SciSports could offer predictive analytics, suggesting strategic adjustments in real time and anticipating the club’s future needs.
FC Python (fcpython.com):
It’s much more than an online resource. FC Python educates on the use of Python for football analytics, teaching the fundamentals of programming and data analysis for football. With a dedicated AI module, they could guide trainers to create personalized analysis models, allowing football schools to develop their own AI tools.
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