Use of barcode scanning for notational analysis

The notation method reported in this paper was developed when one of the authors was working with a non-league football club. Matches were recorded using video but there was still a need for timelines of match events – set-pieces, attempts on goal and so forth. Some of the information sought by management (on passing sequences, for example) required more detailed notation. This aspiring junior club was no different from many others: resources were limited. Even if they had been inclined to purchase one of the pieces of sophisticated software used for modern notation, they would not have had the staff to operate it. The barcode scanning method reported here was developed with this type of club in mind but is flexible enough to be used for a wide variety of notational purposes, both for real-time coding and in working from video. 35.2 THE METHOD We have been using small, highly portable barcode scanners to make time-coded recordings of events in competitive sport, mainly football and taekwondo. In the case of football, recordings were made both in real-time and from video footage; for taekwondo, recordings were made solely from video. Competition records were tabulated, analysed and prepared for presentation using Excel software. The method operates in the following way:1 The sport events to be recorded are coded as short, abbreviated strings of characters.