Vision Vantage: A decision support system for footbal player scouts

Abstract

The rapidly evolving sports technology landscape, characterized by advancements in data analytics, machine learning and real-time processing, has paved the way for innovative solutions in player and game analysis. This paper presents Vision Vantage, a cutting-edge football analysis web application harnessing computer vision and machine learning to overcome the limitations of traditional player evaluation methods. Vision Vantage integrates video processing with comprehensive statistical analysis to offer a transformative approach to game assessment and player performance evaluation. The core functionalities of Vision Vantage include object detection using YOLOv5, multi-object tracking with Byte Track, and backend management through FastAPI. These technologies collectively enhance the accuracy of player and ball tracking, enable speed and distance estimation, and facilitate pass detection. The system's architecture supports seamless user registration, game creation, video uploads and skill management, ensuring a robust and user-friendly experience. Rigorous testing phasis, including unit and component testing, validated the system's functionality and performance. Unit tests confirmed the effective handling of valid and invalid inputs across various endpoints, while component testing, conducted using Cypress, verified the smooth operation of frontend interfaces. User testing further refined the system based on feedback, leading to a transition from Django to FastAPI for improved machine learning model integration. Despite its successes, Vision Vantage faces limitations, notably inconsistencies in tracker IDs and challenges related to processing large video files. These issues impact data integrity and system performance, highlighting areas for future improvement. Recommendations for future work include the development of a player highlight component to dynamically showcase high-performing players based on statistical analysis. This enhancement aims to provide deeper insights into player contributions and improve the scouting experience by offering value performance metrics and visual indicators. Vision Vantage represents a significant advancement in football analysis technology, provide a comprehensive tool for player evaluation and game assessment.