Automatic Registration of Footsteps in Contact Regions for Reactive Agility Training in Sports

Abstract

In collective sports, reactive agility training methodologies allow to evaluate and improve the player performance, being able to consider a mixture of technical, tactical, physical, and psychological abilities, similarly to real game-play situations. In this article, we present a new methodology for reactive agility training (neural training), the technological setup for the methodology, and a new footstep tracking algorithm, as the key element for automating the speed data gathering process, necessary for obtaining the relevant variables of the neural training approach. This new methodology is oriented to accurately measure two of the most relevant variables for reactive agility training: total response time (sprint time) and response correctness, related to a stimuli sequence presented to a player. The stimuli were designed to properly represent realistic competitive conditions for player training, contextualized to soccer. In order to automate the gathering process, a new computer vision based automatic footstep detection algorithm has been integrated to the system. The algorithm combines Kalman Filters, segmentation techniques, and perspective geometry, for obtaining highly precise detections of the moment a relevant footstep occurs in real-time, reaching a precision higher than 97%. Plus, the algorithm does not require any special marker, invasive sensor, or clothing constraint on the player.

Improving Special Ability Performance of Badminton Players through a Visual Reaction Training System

“…For random-light reaction time, the results revealed a shorter reaction time for the forehand side than for the backhand side. The players moved by shifting their center of gravity after receiving stimulating information; this principle conforms with the theory of perception and decision-making in agility [ 2 , 18 , 19 ], indicating a crucial association between agility and specific athletic performance. Similarly, the results of the present study revealed significant improvements in the reaction time performance of its participants.…”

“…Numerous studies have investigated the footwork and movements of badminton players, and their findings have been combined with sports science and technology in recent years and widely applied in badminton training. In one study, accelerators were used to obtain the step-related data of players during step training, and a quantitative analysis of average and maximum speeds was performed to effectively assess the speed and state of their movements to adequately improve their agility and overall athletic performance [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Badminton involves shots that require speed and explosive strength combined with agile footwork and movements that are applied tactically, and it has become a popular racket sport that is extensively developed worldwide [ 5 ].…”

“…Research has revealed a significant correlation between athletic performance and the agility of footwork movements [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]. Traditionally, agility was simply defined as the speed with directional changes [ 7 ].…”

“…Steps, lunges, and other types of footwork movements are performed to receive the shuttlecock and to return to a defensive position after each attack and defense as soon as possible to correctly per-form efficient (direction and distance) and high-quality (strength and intensity) shots. Immediately returning to the central position after performing a shot and following up with another shot is an efficient technique that increases a badminton player’s probability of winning [ 1 , 2 ].…”

The technique of using balls of different weights and diameters for the interrelated development of physical qualities, accuracy of strikes and psychophysiological capabilities of young football players

“…Latorre, Zuniga, Arriaza, Moya, Nikulin [16] showed that in collective sports, the methods of psychophysiological capabilities (reactive agility, speed of reaction) when modeling various game situations allow to evaluate and improve the player's results. This is due to the fact that it is possible to take into account the combination of technical, tactical, physical and psychological abilities, as in real game situations.…”