AI revolutionizes amateur football: New Cologne start-up sets standards!

AI revolutionizes amateur football: New Cologne start-up sets standards!

A new wave of innovation has emerged in the world of football, characterized by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The Cologne start-up N12 Tactics develops software solutions that are intended to revolutionize game analysis, particularly in amateur football. With a clear goal in mind of making game analysis more accessible, N12 Tactics has acquired EXIST funding of around 150,000 euros for one year, financed by the Project Management Jülich and the Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH. dshs-koeln.de reports that…

Under the direction of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Daniel Memmert, the managing director of the Institute for Training Science and Sports Informatics, the project is supported by a competent team. N12 Tactics’ core products include the “Frames” and “Patterns” software solutions. While “Frames” enables real-time analysis of games and automatically highlights key moments, “Patterns” offers a user-friendly visualization of tactics on mobile devices. These technologies not only simulate the movements of opposing teams, but also the optimal positioning of goalkeepers.

Innovations through AI in football

The use of AI in football has increased significantly in recent years. Artificial intelligence is not only used to analyze moves, but also plays a crucial role in supporting referees. Semi-automated offside detection (SAOT) used by video assistant referees (VAR) shows how technology can help improve decisions. Such systems typically require extensive infrastructure with 10-12 static cameras per stadium, making accessible implementation difficult. Tianjian Jiang, a computer science doctoral student at ETH Zurich, is working on simplifying access to AI in football, with the aim of using single-camera AI analysis systems. inside-it.ch reports that…

A significant advance has been made with the Worldpose dataset, which contains over 2.5 million 3D game poses, revolutionizing player movement analysis. Machine learning algorithms make it possible to recognize patterns in image and video data, but these methods still face challenges. FIFA commissioned ETH Zurich to create new data sets to improve existing analysis methods, underscoring the importance of these research advances.

Games, scouting and tactical decisions

Artificial intelligence is not only changing game analysis, but also revolutionizing scouting. Clubs use AI to identify talent and precisely evaluate data. These tools evaluate player performance in categories such as speed and passing accuracy. While AI provides deeper insights into players' and opponents' strategies, it also helps coaches make real-time tactical decisions and develop targeted training plans that take individual strengths into account. Systems like PLAIER and SCOUTASTIC not only analyze classic game data, but also integrate information from social media. se.informatik.uni-due.de reports that…

Developments in AI have also raised privacy and ethical issues that cannot be ignored. Nevertheless, 90 percent of football experts are convinced that AI-based tactics are superior to human decisions. The challenges of data and algorithm quality remain critical to the effectiveness of these systems.

In summary, AI in football is not just considered a technology, but an essential part of strategic planning and decision-making. N12 Tactics' project is likely to play a key role in this rapidly evolving landscape by bridging technological advancements and passion for the sport.