Quantifying Soccer Players' Coordinated Behaviours: Insights from Accelerometer Data and Network Analysis for Performance and Injury Prevention

Objective: This study aimed to quantify soccer players’ coordinated behaviour during matches using triaxial accelerometer data and directed network analysis. It compared dyadic and triadic coordination patterns between professional and amateur women’s soccer teams, exploring their implications for performance and injury risk. Methods: Accelerometer data from 42 players were analysed to identify dyads and triads, assess their diversity, and calculate the Interaction Dynamics Network (IDN) index, which distinguishes between proactive and reactive coordination. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and post hoc tests, were conducted to compare the coordination metrics across teams, positions, and injury histories. Results: Professional teams exhibited significantly higher numbers and diversity of dyads and triads than amateur teams (p<0.001), with both metrics declining during the second half of matches. Reactive coordination was more prevalent among players with a history of noncontact knee injuries, particularly defenders and forwards, whereas midfielders predominantly demonstrated proactive patterns. Conclusion: This study highlights the tactical sophistication of professional teams and suggests a potential link between reactive coordination and injury risk. Directed network analysis is a valuable tool for assessing team dynamics and offers practical insights for developing position-specific training and injury prevention strategies. Future studies should validate these findings using larger datasets and examine the long-term impacts of reactive coordination on injury risk.