Phases of Play Estimation

This section defines the target play phases for estimation. The objective is to estimate the probability of each phase for a given match situation, rather than assigning a single label.

Target Play Phases

The estimation targets are the 9 major Phases of Play as defined by FIFA. These phases capture the tactical dynamics of a match across different states of possession and defensive organization. Detailed definitions by FIFA can be found in the Enhanced Football Intelligence document.

  1. Build up

  2. Progression

  3. Final third

  4. Counter-attack

  5. High press

  6. Mid block

  7. Low block

  8. Counter-press

  9. Recovery

Probability-based Estimation

The framework provides a probability distribution across these nine phases. This allows for a more nuanced analysis, reflecting that modern football situations often blend multiple tactical characteristics.

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