ABSTRACT
Network analysis, which is allied to a branch of mathematics called ‘graph theory’, is often used to model complex interactions within organisations and societies. It is becoming increasingly popular within sport to reveal insights into the performance of teams and organisations that might otherwise be hidden. One area in soccer where network analysis appears to have great potential is in analysing styles of match play using passing data. By producing a network of who passed to whom during a match, it is possible not only to assess the style of play of a team but also to identify the key players who influenced match play. This chapter is an introduction to network analysis and shows how R can be used to construct a passing network between players during soccer matches. The key concept of centrality is also explained in this chapter.
