How AI Helped a Soccer Coach Try a New Strategy
Head Coach of Seattle Reign Explores AI for Fresh Ideas
Laura Harvey, the head coach of the Seattle Reign in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), recently shared that she turned to ChatGPT for some fresh ideas on soccer tactics. She was curious about what the AI could offer, so she asked it questions like:
"What is Seattle Reign's identity?" "What formation should you play to beat NWSL teams?"
The AI even suggested using a back five formation against two specific teams.
A New Formation
Harvey admitted that she had never really researched or used a back five formation before. She had only seen it in men's soccer games, where it was usually used to defend and stop the other team from scoring. But after getting this suggestion from ChatGPT, she decided to give it a try.
Testing the Formation
The Reign played with five in the back in a few games this season. One of those games was against Orlando Pride in April, where they lost 1-0. But in another game against Kansas City Current in May, they won 1-0 using the same formation.
Harvey said that her coaching staff was surprised but willing to try it out. They did some research and practiced the formation, and it worked well for them.
Adaptability Pays Off
However, the Reign didn't stick to the back five formation all season. They also used three-back and standard four-back formations. This made them a tough team to play against, even if they weren't scoring a lot of goals. Thanks to their strong defense, they secured a playoff spot this season.
The Power of Adaptation
Harvey is proud of her team's ability to adapt and change their strategy during games. She likes that other teams have a hard time preparing for them because they never know what formation the Reign will use.
ChatGPT's Limitations
As for ChatGPT, it seems to have some outdated information about the Reign. It still refers to them as OL Reign and mentions players who no longer play for the team. It also describes their playing style as fast and possession-based, which is the opposite of how they've played this season.