Towards a Rupture in Sport: Using a Functional Model to Understand and Intervene in Soccer
António Manuel Neves Vicente, Ana Catarina Rocha Mendes Fernando, Helder Manuel Arsénio Lopes

Abstract
Changes in education are needed. Working with models allows understanding phenomena’s and solving problems in every field. A model can be a very useful instrument because representing reality allows an understanding of some of its aspects. Today’s available means and instruments allow a strategy of understanding sport considering its complexity and taking into account its functionality in order to improve intervention. We’ve tested a simple and functional model in order to understand one typical situation in soccer: the penalty kick. The model proposed by Fernando Almada, t ≥ t', was used to analyse a set of penalty kicks from the last FIFA World Cup 2010. From the analysis we can conclude that this model allows identifying and understanding the importance of the temporal relations between the goalkeeper and the striker actions as well as identifying relevant variables to be considered and their interdependencies.

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