How Positional Constraints Affect Footedness in Football: A Notational Analysis of Five Leagues in Europe

Abstract

The model indicated a significant effect of distance (F[2, 5,861] = 62.502; p < 0.001) and pitch zone (F[4, 5,861] = 4.729; p = 0.001). Pairwise contrasts of distances were all significant (Z > 6.662; p < 0.001), indicating a decrement in the percentage of shots performed on target as the distance increased. Regarding pitch zone, left-footed players performed worse when shooting from the FR zone (Z > 2.728; p < 0.05) compared to all other zones (SM Table ).2. On target shots of right-footed players.The model indicated a significant effect of distance (F[2, 17,565] = 211.77; p < 0.001) and pitch zone (F[4, 17,565] = 9.18; p < 0.001). Pairwise contrasts of distances were all significant (Z > 10.510; p < 0.001), indicating a decrement in the percentage of shots performed on target as the distance increased. Regarding pitch zone, most pairwise contrasts were significant (Z > 2.01; p < 0.05), except for FL vs. L, FL vs. FR, FR vs. R, and FR vs. L. These results indicate a better overall performance when right-footed players attempted a shot from the central zone (SM Table ).

The Development of Bilateral Skill Symmetry: Insights From Gaelic Football Players and Coaches

“…Prior notational analysis studies have also focused on individual-level analysis; that is, these studies have investigated the frequency and success with which a performer uses both limbs (Giovanini et al, 2020;Marcori et al, 2021;Stöckel & Weigelt, 2012). However, the participants in the current study emphasized that bilateral skill symmetry influences both individual and team performances.…”

“…Participants in this study emphasized that bilateral skill execution was most valuable in specific situations (e.g., when under pressure from opposing players); a view that is consistent with recent reviews of bilateral skill in sport (Parrington & Ball, 2016;Stöckel & Carey, 2016) and analysis of players' perceptual-cognitive skill . Consequently, in future notational analysis studies, greater consideration should be given to the specific constraints under which skills are executed (Browne et al, 2019;Marcori et al, 2021) and in particular, completing an analysis of only those situations in which a performer would benefit from executing the skill from one side or the other. Documenting players' use of both limbs within these specific situations would provide a fairer basis to judge the importance of bilateral skill symmetry within sports performance than examining all skill executions.…”

“…However, on those rare occasions where they used their nondominant side, players were as proficient as with their dominant side (Carey et al, 2009(Carey et al, , 2001. The absence of performance differences during game play between dominant and nondominant sides has also been found in elite soccer (Marcori et al, 2021) and basketball (Giovanini et al, 2020). In Australian football, Ball (2011) reported that 80% of kicks were performed with the dominant side, although some players were ambidextrous, performing 45% of kicks with the nondominant side.…”

“…Sports such as basketball, soccer, and rugby union offer a player the opportunity to use either limb with equal frequency and dexterity. A number of studies support the value of bilateral skill symmetry within such sports (Marcori et al, 2021;Parrington & Ball, 2016). For example, basketball players rely less on their dominant hand as their expertise increases (67.6% reliance in professional players vs. 82.1% reliance in amateur players; Stöckel & Weigelt, 2012).…”

“…The experiential knowledge of successful coaches can enhance empirical research on sports performance (Connor et al, 2020;Greenwood et al, 2012;Otte et al, 2020). To date, the definition and development of bilateral skill symmetry has been investigated via a quantitative approach (Giovanini et al, 2020;Guilherme et al, 2015;Marcori et al, 2021). A complimentary qualitative approach has two key advantages.…”