Science in soccer
This is a quick introduction to a series of articles that will cover a range of topics and techniques that can be used by soccer practitioners to better understand the data they are collecting on players.
Predictive Analytics: Microsoft Excel is an excellent book by Conrad Carlberg detailing many statistical methods that can be easily performed in Excel or with plug-ins such as Solver. However, this book is very business orientated, I will attempt to demonstrate these statistical methods using Excel with simulated data and look to answer the questions that are generated in a team sport environment.
This series of articles will give background information into various statistical methods such as, when to use them, what data is appropriate and what questions can be answered from these methods. Articles will also include step by step guidelines for how to conduct these statistical methods in Excel. Articles will include: –
- Linear regression
- Multiple regression
- Forecasting with moving averages
- Forecasting a time series: smoothing
- Forecasting a time series: regression
- Logistic regression
- Principal components analysis
- Box-Jenkins ARIMA models
- Varimax factor rotation
My aim is to publish at least one article per week. However, this is a learning experience for myself as well. As I work my way through the book and create practical examples related to soccer. More complex methods my take longer. Hopefully by the end this will be a great series of articles that can be used by soccer coaches, sport scientists, S&C coaches and physiotherapists to improve our understanding of data and how it can impact performance.
Look out for Part 1: Linear Regression in the coming days.
http://www.scienceinsoccer.com/2014/06/predictive-analytics-in-excel.html
