Objective: In the current study, we examined how football players` usage of space and the teams` ball movement flow throughout the match are associated with the quality of performance achieved in competition. Methods: We constructed two novel metrics that aimed at measuring spatial symmetry and passing flow on a team-wide scope. Our aim was to clarify whether the way players position themselves throughout the match, and the passing patterns they produce, can explain team success. Results: An analysis of all matches played in the 2018-2019 English Premier League season (N = 380) revealed a positive relationship between the teams` spatiotemporal dynamics and team performance. Conclusion: Based on the findings of our analysis, we discuss the strengths and limitations of the newly-developed metrics, and stress the need for additional studies examining their effectiveness.
© Copyright 2022 Science and Medicine in Football. Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.