Return-To-Play Decision Making in Team Sports Athletes. A Quasi-Naturalistic Scenario Study

AbstractThe increasing availability of data from sports events has led to many new directions of research, and sports analytics can play a role in making better decisions both within a club and at the level of an individual player. The ability to objectively evaluate individual players in team sports is one aspect that may enable better decision making, but such evaluations are not straightforward to obtain. One class of ratings for individual players in team sports, known as plus-minus ratings, attempt to distribute credit for the performance of a team onto the players of that team. Such ratings have a long history, going back at least to the 1950s, but in recent years research on advanced versions of plus-minus ratings has increased noticeably. This paper presents a comprehensive review of contributions to plus-minus ratings in later years, pointing out some key developments and showing the richness of the mathematical models developed. One conclusion is that the literature on plus-minus ratings is quite fragmented, but that awareness of past contributions to the field should allow researchers to focus on some of the many open research questions related to the evaluation of individual players in team sports.

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Sport-Related Concussion II: Managing the Injured Athlete and Return-to-Play Decision Making

Manual of Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

10.1891/9781617052699.0010 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Mary Alexis Iaccarino ◽

Ross Zafonte

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Return To Play

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Developing Design Guidelines for Virtual Reality based Decision-Making Training for Team Sports

10.1145/3450337.3483477 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Farah Ditha Farizi ◽

Thuong Hoang ◽

Shaun Bangay ◽

Stefan Greuter

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Team Sports ◽

Design Guidelines

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Sport-Related Concussion II: Managing the Injured Athlete and Return-to-Play Decision-Making

Manual of Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

10.1891/9780826147684.0010 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

MARY ALEXIS IACCARINO ◽

ROSS ZAFONTE

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Return To Play

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The Role of Imaging in the Return to Training and Return to Play Decision-Making Process

10.1007/978-3-030-84950-4_5 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 23-30

Author(s):

Gian Nicola Bisciotti ◽

Alessandro Corsini ◽

Piero Volpi

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Return To Play ◽

Decision Making Process

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Complete resolution of a hamstring intramuscular tendon injury on MRI is not necessary for a clinically successful return to play

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2019-101808 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bjsports-2019-101808 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robin Vermeulen ◽

Emad Almusa ◽

Stan Buckens ◽

Willem Six ◽

Rod Whiteley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Complete Resolution ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Tendon Injury ◽

Tendon Injuries ◽

Return To Play ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Mri Characteristics

BackgroundClinical decision-making around intramuscular tendon injuries of the hamstrings is a controversial topic in sports medicine. For this injury, MRI at return to play (RTP) might improve RTP decision-making; however, no studies have investigated this.ObjectiveOur objectives were to describe MRI characteristics at RTP, to evaluate healing and to examine the association of MRI characteristics at RTP with reinjury for clinically recovered hamstring intramuscular tendon injuries.MethodsWe included 41 athletes with hamstring intramuscular tendon injuries and an MRI at baseline and RTP. For both MRIs, we used a standardised scoring form that included intramuscular tendon injury characteristics. We recorded reinjuries during 1-year follow-up.ResultsAt RTP, 56% of the intramuscular tendons showed a partial or complete thickness tendon discontinuity. Regarding healing from injury to RTP, 18 of 34 (44% overall) partial-thickness tendon discontinuities became continuous and 6 out of 7 (15% overall) complete thickness tendon discontinuities became partial-thickness tendon discontinuities. Waviness decreased from 61% to 12%, and 88% of tendons became thickened. We recorded eight (20%) reinjuries within 1 year. Intramuscular tendon characteristics at RTP between participants with or without a reinjury were similar.ConclusionComplete resolution of an intramuscular tendon injury on MRI is not necessary for clinically successful RTP. From injury to RTP, the intramuscular tendon displayed signs of healing. Intramuscular tendon characteristics of those with or without a reinjury were similar.

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Return to play after hamstring injuries in football (soccer): a worldwide Delphi procedure regarding definition, medical criteria and decision-making

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2016-097206 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 51 (22) ◽

pp. 1583-1591 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Nick van der Horst ◽

FJG Backx ◽

Edwin A Goedhart ◽

Bionka MA Huisstede

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Field Testing ◽

Return To Play ◽

Hamstring Injury ◽

Feedback Report ◽

Hamstring Injuries ◽

Starting Point ◽

Delphi Procedure ◽

Hamstring Flexibility ◽

The Moment

There are three major questions about return to play (RTP) after hamstring injuries: How should RTP be defined? Which medical criteria should support the RTP decision? And who should make the RTP decision? The study aimed to provide a clear RTP definition and medical criteria for RTP and to clarify RTP consultation and responsibilities after hamstring injury. The study used the Delphi procedure. The results of a systematic review were used as a starting point for the Delphi procedure. Fifty-eight experts in the field of hamstring injury management selected by 28 FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence worldwide participated. Each Delphi round consisted of a questionnaire, an analysis and an anonymised feedback report. After four Delphi rounds, with more than 83% response for each round, consensus was achieved that RTP should be defined as ‘the moment a player has received criteria-based medical clearance and is mentally ready for full availability for match selection and/or full training’. The experts reached consensus on the following criteria to support the RTP decision: medical staff clearance, absence of pain on palpation, absence of pain during strength and flexibility testing, absence of pain during/after functional testing, similar hamstring flexibility, performance on field testing, and psychological readiness. It was also agreed that RTP decisions should be based on shared decision-making, primarily via consultation with the athlete, sports physician, physiotherapist, fitness trainer and team coach. The consensus regarding aspects of RTP should provide clarity and facilitate the assessment of when RTP is appropriate after hamstring injury, so as to avoid or reduce the risk of injury recurrence because of a premature RTP.

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Artificial intelligence for team sports: a survey

The Knowledge Engineering Review ◽

10.1017/s0269888919000225 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ryan Beal ◽

Timothy J. Norman ◽

Sarvapali D. Ramchurn

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Machine Learning ◽

Decision Making ◽

Outcome Prediction ◽

Team Sports ◽

Fantasy Sports ◽

Sports Teams ◽

Injury Prediction ◽

Tactical Decision ◽

Research Questions

Abstract The sports domain presents a number of significant computational challenges for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). In this paper, we explore the techniques that have been applied to the challenges within team sports thus far. We focus on a number of different areas, namely match outcome prediction, tactical decision making, player investments, fantasy sports, and injury prediction. By assessing the work in these areas, we explore how AI is used to predict match outcomes and to help sports teams improve their strategic and tactical decision making. In particular, we describe the main directions in which research efforts have been focused to date. This highlights not only a number of strengths but also weaknesses of the models and techniques that have been employed. Finally, we discuss the research questions that exist in order to further the use of AI and ML in team sports.

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Return-to-Play Practices Following Hamstring Injury: A Worldwide Survey of 131 Premier League Football Teams

Sports Medicine ◽

10.1007/s40279-019-01199-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 829-840 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gordon Dunlop ◽

Clare L. Ardern ◽

Thor Einar Andersen ◽

Colin Lewin ◽

Gregory Dupont ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Online Survey ◽

Return To Play ◽

Hamstring Injury ◽

Professional Football ◽

Multiple Stakeholders ◽

Related Factors ◽

Beliefs And Practices ◽

Premier League ◽

Key Stakeholders

Abstract Purpose Return-to-play (RTP) is an on-going challenge in professional football. Return-to-play related research is increasing. However, it is unknown to what extent the recommendations presented within research are being implemented by professional football teams, and where there are gaps between research and practice. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine if premier-league football teams worldwide follow a RTP continuum, (2) to identify RTP criteria used and (3) to understand how RTP decision-making occurs in applied practice. Methods We sent a structured online survey to practitioners responsible for the RTP programme in 310 professional teams from 34 premier-leagues worldwide. The survey comprised four sections, based on hamstring muscle injury: (1) criteria used throughout RTP phases, (2) the frequency with which progression criteria were achieved, (3) RTP decision-making process and (4) challenges to decision-making. Results One-hundred and thirty-one teams responded with a completed survey (42%). One-hundred and twenty-four teams (95%) used a continuum to guide RTP, assessing a combination of clinical, functional and psychological criteria to inform decisions to progress. One-hundred and five (80%) teams reported using a shared decision-making approach considering the input of multiple stakeholders. Team hierarchy, match- and player-related factors were common challenges perceived to influence decision-making. Conclusions General research recommendations for RTP and the beliefs and practices of practitioners appear to match with, the majority of teams assessing functional, clinical and psychological criteria throughout a RTP continuum to inform decision-making which is also shared among key stakeholders. However, specific criteria, metrics and thresholds used, and the specific involvement, dynamics and interactions of staff during decision-making are not clear.

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