Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century
IntroductionIntegrating computer vision with sports has significantly transformed competitive, educational, and recreational sports practices. A review of the literature in this field is imperative. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the field's temporal, disciplinary, geographic, journal,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1604232/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849318802851889152 |
|---|---|
| author | Cheng Chen Cheng Chen Jiaxin Xue Wenling Gou Mengning Xie Xiaolin Yao Xiaolin Yao |
| author_facet | Cheng Chen Cheng Chen Jiaxin Xue Wenling Gou Mengning Xie Xiaolin Yao Xiaolin Yao |
| author_sort | Cheng Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionIntegrating computer vision with sports has significantly transformed competitive, educational, and recreational sports practices. A review of the literature in this field is imperative. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the field's temporal, disciplinary, geographic, journal, and collaborative characteristics and summarize research themes and future trends to promote a systematic understanding of the field within the academic community.MethodsTo identify research trends, a bibliometric analysis of 1,209 publications retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded in the Web of Science core database was conducted.ResultsIn terms of time series, publications in the field grew slowly until 2014, and publications in the field increased significantly after 2015, with polynomial models predicting 206, 233, and 263 annual publications over the next three years. In terms of disciplinary structure, three frontier disciplines utilized interdisciplinary knowledge provided by four basic disciplines to make cutting-edge breakthroughs. Geospatially, there is a three-way split between China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, while most African countries are not involved in the research. Regarding journal distribution, research in this field was published in five Q2 and four Q1 journals, mainly in computing, with fewer contributions from sports journals. The study identifies five principal research themes: skill optimization, health monitoring and injury prevention, physical performance assessment, tactical analysis and referee assistance, and immersive event experiences. Furthermore, it highlights existing research limitations and outlines directions for future exploration.ConclusionsComputer vision research in sports has shown high explosive growth in recent years. The field is interdisciplinary but lacks collaboration among interdisciplinary research teams. The quality of the journals published is high, but the main focus is on computer-based journals. The theme of research in this field is centered on the fundamental characteristic of serving human beings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-936ba3685e1c4c36b4a1609aef9ea6fd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-936ba3685e1c4c36b4a1609aef9ea6fd2025-08-20T03:50:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-07-01710.3389/fspor.2025.16042321604232Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st centuryCheng Chen0Cheng Chen1Jiaxin Xue2Wenling Gou3Mengning Xie4Xiaolin Yao5Xiaolin Yao6Graduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, East China University of Technology, NanChang, ChinaGraduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, ChinaFaculty of Physical and Sports Sciences and Techniques, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, FranceSchool of Physical Education, East China University of Technology, NanChang, ChinaGraduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, ChinaInstitute of Sports Humanities and Society, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, ChinaIntroductionIntegrating computer vision with sports has significantly transformed competitive, educational, and recreational sports practices. A review of the literature in this field is imperative. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the field's temporal, disciplinary, geographic, journal, and collaborative characteristics and summarize research themes and future trends to promote a systematic understanding of the field within the academic community.MethodsTo identify research trends, a bibliometric analysis of 1,209 publications retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded in the Web of Science core database was conducted.ResultsIn terms of time series, publications in the field grew slowly until 2014, and publications in the field increased significantly after 2015, with polynomial models predicting 206, 233, and 263 annual publications over the next three years. In terms of disciplinary structure, three frontier disciplines utilized interdisciplinary knowledge provided by four basic disciplines to make cutting-edge breakthroughs. Geospatially, there is a three-way split between China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, while most African countries are not involved in the research. Regarding journal distribution, research in this field was published in five Q2 and four Q1 journals, mainly in computing, with fewer contributions from sports journals. The study identifies five principal research themes: skill optimization, health monitoring and injury prevention, physical performance assessment, tactical analysis and referee assistance, and immersive event experiences. Furthermore, it highlights existing research limitations and outlines directions for future exploration.ConclusionsComputer vision research in sports has shown high explosive growth in recent years. The field is interdisciplinary but lacks collaboration among interdisciplinary research teams. The quality of the journals published is high, but the main focus is on computer-based journals. The theme of research in this field is centered on the fundamental characteristic of serving human beings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1604232/fullsportscomputer visionartificial intelligencehealth monitoringinjury preventionreferee assistance |
| spellingShingle | Cheng Chen Cheng Chen Jiaxin Xue Wenling Gou Mengning Xie Xiaolin Yao Xiaolin Yao Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century Frontiers in Sports and Active Living sports computer vision artificial intelligence health monitoring injury prevention referee assistance |
| title | Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century |
| title_full | Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century |
| title_short | Quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century |
| title_sort | quantitative analysis and evaluation of research on the application of computer vision in sports since the 21st century |
| topic | sports computer vision artificial intelligence health monitoring injury prevention referee assistance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1604232/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chengchen quantitativeanalysisandevaluationofresearchontheapplicationofcomputervisioninsportssincethe21stcentury AT chengchen quantitativeanalysisandevaluationofresearchontheapplicationofcomputervisioninsportssincethe21stcentury AT jiaxinxue quantitativeanalysisandevaluationofresearchontheapplicationofcomputervisioninsportssincethe21stcentury AT wenlinggou quantitativeanalysisandevaluationofresearchontheapplicationofcomputervisioninsportssincethe21stcentury AT mengningxie quantitativeanalysisandevaluationofresearchontheapplicationofcomputervisioninsportssincethe21stcentury AT xiaolinyao quantitativeanalysisandevaluationofresearchontheapplicationofcomputervisioninsportssincethe21stcentury AT xiaolinyao quantitativeanalysisandevaluationofresearchontheapplicationofcomputervisioninsportssincethe21stcentury |