An Exploratory Study on the Applicability of Tactics in Team Performance Evaluation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore, extract and categorize the team's tactical factors in soccer matches. Tactical factors are extracted on the basis of the phases consisting a football match (attack, defense, attacking transition, and defensive transition). Research design, data, and methodology: A semi-structural interviews were conducted with a group of experts of five football managers and coaches to explore tactical factors. Analysis of the content was done using a categorical aggregation or direct interpretation, and then was conducted factorial extraction and categorization. Results: In the attack phase, a direct attack and a step-by-step (occupation) attack form the type of attack, and in the attack transition phase, a long counter attack and a short counter attack form the type of attack. The type of defense in the defense phase was divided into regional defense and compression defense, and the type of defense in the defense transition phase was divided into defense for delaying counterattacks and defense for immediate pressure. Each tactics appeared differently depending on the situation of the game and the play of style. Conclusions: It may indicate the team’s performance and has the potential for being used as a team performance factor. Further implications were discussed.