# Space evaluation based on pitch control using drone video in Ultimate

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.14588 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.14588/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 1 of its 6 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 3 Sep 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Evaluation of creating scoring opportunities for teammates in soccer via trajectory prediction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.01899/) (2022)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [TrackID3x3: A Dataset and Algorithm for Multi-Player Tracking with Identification and Pose Estimation in 3x3 Basketball Full-court Videos](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.18282/) (2025)
- [Space evaluation at the starting point of soccer transitions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.14711/) (2025)
- [Evaluating Movement Initiation Timing in Ultimate Frisbee via Temporal Counterfactuals](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.17611/) (2025)
- [Analysis of Line Break prediction models for detecting defensive breakthrough in football](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.00121/) (2025)
- [Right Move, Right Time: Multi-Sport Space Evaluation Platform for Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, and Soccer](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.06585/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Ultimate is a sport in which teams of seven players compete for points by passing a disc into the end zone. A distinctive aspect of Ultimate is that the player holding the disc is unable to move, underscoring the significance of creating space to receive passes. Despite extensive research into space evaluation in sports such as football and basketball, there is a paucity of information available for Ultimate. This study focuses on the 3-on-3 format, which is widely practiced in Ultimate, and evaluates space during offensive play. The data collection process entailed the use of drones for filming and the subsequent correction of the angles for the purpose of obtaining positional data. The model is derived from the pitch control model of soccer and adapted to the rules of Ultimate, where the player holding the disc is stationary. The integration of position and distance weights with pitch control values enables the derivation of space evaluation metrics. The findings of this study indicate that movement to create space and accurate passing into that space are both significant factors in scoring. The code is available at https://github.com/shunsuke-iwashita/USO.