Towards an Effective VR System for Training Soccer Athletes
Resumo
Virtual Reality (VR) is a powerful tool for perceptual-cognitive skills training in sports. In this paper, we present a VR system that reconstructs a real soccer game from 3D motion capture (mocap) data, allowing users to navigate the virtual environment freely – either physically or via controllers – offering a dynamic and untethered training perspective of decision-making and perceptual cognitive skills. We conducted a set of three preliminary user studies with a total of 30 volunteers to identify usability flaws, gather users’ feedback on interaction design and comfort, and refine the application into a stable and intuitive prototype. The iterative validation process conducted by us revealed some usability findings that are described here and shaped the final prototype. Future research will involve testing the refined prototype with professional athletes and coaches to gather expert feedback and formally assess its potential as a training aid.
Palavras-chave:
Immersive Training, Virtual Reality, Video-Based Training, Motion Capture, Soccer
Referências
David L. Neumann et al. "A systematic review of the application of interactive virtual reality to sport." Virtual Reality 22 (2018): 183–198.
Stefan C. Michalski, Ancret Szpak, and Tobias Loetscher. "Using virtual environments to improve real-world motor skills in sports: a systematic review." Frontiers in Psychology 10 (2019): 2159.
C. Craig. "Understanding perception and action in sport: how can virtual reality technology help?" Sports Technology 6.4 (2013): 161–169. DOI: 10.1080/19346182.2013.855224.
Rob Gray. "Virtual environments and their role in developing perceptual-cognitive skills in sports." Anticipation and Decision Making in Sport. Routledge, 2019. 342–358.
D. Panchuk, M. J. Klusemann, and S. M. Hadlow. "Exploring the effectiveness of immersive video for training decision-making capability in elite, youth basketball players." Frontiers in Psychology 9 (2018): 2315. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02315.
C. Page, P. M. Bernier, and M. Trempe. "Using video simulations and virtual reality to improve decision-making skills in basketball." Journal of Sports Sciences 37.21 (2019): 2403–2410. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1638193.
Aden Kittel et al. "Effectiveness of 360 Virtual Reality and Match Broadcast Video to Improve Decision-making Skill." Science and Medicine in Football (2020). DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1754449.
P. J. Fadde and L. Zaichkowsky. "Training perceptual-cognitive skills in sports using technology." Journal of Sport Psychology in Action 9.4 (2018): 239–248. DOI: 10.1080/21520704.2018.1509162.
Aden Kittel et al. "360 Virtual Reality: A SWOT Analysis in Comparison to Virtual Reality." Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2020): 563474. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563474.
A. Kittel et al. "Using 360 virtual reality as a decision-making assessment tool in sport." Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 22.9 (2019): 1049–1053. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.03.012.
A. Kittel et al. "Video-based testing in sporting officials: a systematic review." Psychology of Sport and Exercise 43 (2019): 261–270. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.03.013.
Leonardo S. Fortes et al. "Virtual reality promotes greater improvements than video-stimulation screen on perceptual-cognitive skills in young soccer athletes." Human Movement Science 79 (2021): 102856. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2021.102856.
Helen C. Miles et al. "A review of virtual environments for training in ball sports." Computers & Graphics 36.6 (2012): 714–726. DOI: 10.1016/j.cag.2012.04.007.
John Connolly et al. "Training decision making in sports using virtual reality: a scoping review." International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology (2025): 1–18.
Sebastien Brault et al. "Virtual kicker vs. real goalkeeper in soccer: a way to explore goalkeeper’s performance." Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricite 89.3 (2015): 79–88.
Joost C. Dessing and Cathy M. Craig. "Bending it like Beckham: how to visually fool the goalkeeper." PLoS One 5.10 (2010): e13161.
Rob Gray. "Transfer of training from virtual to real baseball batting." Frontiers in Psychology 8 (2017): 2183.
S. M. Alessi. "Fidelity in the design of instructional simulations." Journal of Computer-Based Instruction 15.2 (1988): 40–47.
R. A. Pinder et al. "Representative learning design and functionality of research and practice in sport." Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology 33.1 (2011): 146–155. DOI: 10.1123/jsep.33.1.146.
Aden Kittel et al. "Transfer of 360 Virtual Reality and Match Broadcast Video-based Tests to On-field Decision-making." Science and Medicine in Football (2020). DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1802506.
David J. Harris et al. "A framework for the testing and validation of simulated environments in experimentation and training." Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2020): 605.
G. Wood et al. "Testing the construct validity of a soccer-specific virtual reality simulator using novice, academy, and professional soccer players." Virtual Reality 25.1 (2021): 43–51. DOI: 10.1007/s10055-020-00441-x.
Alexandra Covaci, Anne-Helene Olivier, and Franck Multon. "Visual perspective and feedback guidance for VR free-throw training." IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 35.5 (2015): 55–65.
Hawkar Oagaz, Breawn Schoun, and Min-Hyung Choi. "Performance improvement and skill transfer in table tennis through training in virtual reality." IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics 28.12 (2021): 4332–4343.
Kerstin Witte et al. "Sports training in virtual reality to improve response behavior in karate kumite with transfer to real world." Frontiers in Virtual Reality 3 (2022): 903021. DOI: 10.3389/frvir.2022.903021.
John Brooke. "System usability scale (SUS): a quick-and-dirty method of system evaluation user information." Reading, UK: Digital Equipment Co Ltd 43 (1986): 1–7.
Jorge A. Wagner Filho et al. "Immersive visualization of abstract information: An evaluation on dimensionally-reduced data scatterplots." 2018 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR). IEEE, 2018. 483–490.
Sarah Sharples et al. "Virtual reality induced symptoms and effects (VRISE): Comparison of head mounted display (HMD), desktop and projection display systems." Displays 29.2 (2008): 58–69.
Stefan C. Michalski, Ancret Szpak, and Tobias Loetscher. "Using virtual environments to improve real-world motor skills in sports: a systematic review." Frontiers in Psychology 10 (2019): 2159.
C. Craig. "Understanding perception and action in sport: how can virtual reality technology help?" Sports Technology 6.4 (2013): 161–169. DOI: 10.1080/19346182.2013.855224.
Rob Gray. "Virtual environments and their role in developing perceptual-cognitive skills in sports." Anticipation and Decision Making in Sport. Routledge, 2019. 342–358.
D. Panchuk, M. J. Klusemann, and S. M. Hadlow. "Exploring the effectiveness of immersive video for training decision-making capability in elite, youth basketball players." Frontiers in Psychology 9 (2018): 2315. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02315.
C. Page, P. M. Bernier, and M. Trempe. "Using video simulations and virtual reality to improve decision-making skills in basketball." Journal of Sports Sciences 37.21 (2019): 2403–2410. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1638193.
Aden Kittel et al. "Effectiveness of 360 Virtual Reality and Match Broadcast Video to Improve Decision-making Skill." Science and Medicine in Football (2020). DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1754449.
P. J. Fadde and L. Zaichkowsky. "Training perceptual-cognitive skills in sports using technology." Journal of Sport Psychology in Action 9.4 (2018): 239–248. DOI: 10.1080/21520704.2018.1509162.
Aden Kittel et al. "360 Virtual Reality: A SWOT Analysis in Comparison to Virtual Reality." Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2020): 563474. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563474.
A. Kittel et al. "Using 360 virtual reality as a decision-making assessment tool in sport." Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 22.9 (2019): 1049–1053. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.03.012.
A. Kittel et al. "Video-based testing in sporting officials: a systematic review." Psychology of Sport and Exercise 43 (2019): 261–270. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.03.013.
Leonardo S. Fortes et al. "Virtual reality promotes greater improvements than video-stimulation screen on perceptual-cognitive skills in young soccer athletes." Human Movement Science 79 (2021): 102856. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2021.102856.
Helen C. Miles et al. "A review of virtual environments for training in ball sports." Computers & Graphics 36.6 (2012): 714–726. DOI: 10.1016/j.cag.2012.04.007.
John Connolly et al. "Training decision making in sports using virtual reality: a scoping review." International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology (2025): 1–18.
Sebastien Brault et al. "Virtual kicker vs. real goalkeeper in soccer: a way to explore goalkeeper’s performance." Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricite 89.3 (2015): 79–88.
Joost C. Dessing and Cathy M. Craig. "Bending it like Beckham: how to visually fool the goalkeeper." PLoS One 5.10 (2010): e13161.
Rob Gray. "Transfer of training from virtual to real baseball batting." Frontiers in Psychology 8 (2017): 2183.
S. M. Alessi. "Fidelity in the design of instructional simulations." Journal of Computer-Based Instruction 15.2 (1988): 40–47.
R. A. Pinder et al. "Representative learning design and functionality of research and practice in sport." Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology 33.1 (2011): 146–155. DOI: 10.1123/jsep.33.1.146.
Aden Kittel et al. "Transfer of 360 Virtual Reality and Match Broadcast Video-based Tests to On-field Decision-making." Science and Medicine in Football (2020). DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1802506.
David J. Harris et al. "A framework for the testing and validation of simulated environments in experimentation and training." Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2020): 605.
G. Wood et al. "Testing the construct validity of a soccer-specific virtual reality simulator using novice, academy, and professional soccer players." Virtual Reality 25.1 (2021): 43–51. DOI: 10.1007/s10055-020-00441-x.
Alexandra Covaci, Anne-Helene Olivier, and Franck Multon. "Visual perspective and feedback guidance for VR free-throw training." IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 35.5 (2015): 55–65.
Hawkar Oagaz, Breawn Schoun, and Min-Hyung Choi. "Performance improvement and skill transfer in table tennis through training in virtual reality." IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics 28.12 (2021): 4332–4343.
Kerstin Witte et al. "Sports training in virtual reality to improve response behavior in karate kumite with transfer to real world." Frontiers in Virtual Reality 3 (2022): 903021. DOI: 10.3389/frvir.2022.903021.
John Brooke. "System usability scale (SUS): a quick-and-dirty method of system evaluation user information." Reading, UK: Digital Equipment Co Ltd 43 (1986): 1–7.
Jorge A. Wagner Filho et al. "Immersive visualization of abstract information: An evaluation on dimensionally-reduced data scatterplots." 2018 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR). IEEE, 2018. 483–490.
Sarah Sharples et al. "Virtual reality induced symptoms and effects (VRISE): Comparison of head mounted display (HMD), desktop and projection display systems." Displays 29.2 (2008): 58–69.
Publicado
30/09/2025
Como Citar
SECCO, Otávio; NEGRÃO, Matheus D.; DIETRICH, Carlos; NEDEL, Luciana.
Towards an Effective VR System for Training Soccer Athletes. In: SIMPÓSIO DE REALIDADE VIRTUAL E AUMENTADA (SVR), 27. , 2025, Salvador/BA.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2025
.
p. 141-150.
