Integrating Focus and OpenField Data

This guide walks you through the end‑to‑end workflow for synchronising tactical video tags from Focus with wearable performance data from OpenField, and then exporting enriched wearable insights back into a Focus timeline. This process enables deeper analysis of physical demands in relation to tactical phases of play.

Overview of the Workflow

There are two connected workflows:

1. Focus → OpenField: Import tactical tags from Focus into OpenField to analyse wearable data against match phases.
2. OpenField → Focus: Export wearable data from OpenField back into Focus to enrich the video timeline with physical metrics.

Integrating Focus and OpenField Data Walkthrough

Part 1: Preparing and Exporting Tactical Tags from Focus

Step 1: Verify Timing Tags in Focus

1. Open your session in Focus.
2. Navigate to the correct timestamps for key match events.
3. Select Timing Tags and confirm that periods (for example, First Half and Second Half) are accurately tagged.

Step 2: Import Tactical Tags (If Required)

If your tactical tags originate from a third‑party source (e.g. MatchTracker, IMPECT or another provider):

1. Open the Import Tags menu in Focus.
2. Select Import Timeline.
3. Browse your computer and select the relevant timeline file.

Step 3: Synchronise Tags to Timing Tags

1. Open the Sync Tags menu.
2. Select the tactical tag used for Kickoff.
3. Sync this tag to the First Half timing tag.

If the second half is misaligned:

1. Click the Second Half timing tag to move the playhead.
2. Select all tags occurring after this point.
3. Click Sync to Playhead using the Kickoff tag.

Confirm that all tags align correctly with the video.

For further details see:

• Timing Tags Walkthrough

Step 4: Export the Focus Timeline

1. Once all required tags are visible and synchronised, open the export options.
2. Export the session as a JSON file.
3. Save the file to a known location on your computer.

This file will be used to import tactical annotations into OpenField.

For further details see:

• Exporting from the Focus Client

Part 2: Importing Focus Tactical Tags into OpenField

Step 5: Open the OpenField Session

1. Open OpenField.
2. In the Cloud Editor, navigate to the relevant session where wearable data has already been recorded.

Step 6: Import Annotations

1. Click Import Annotations button.
2. Browse to the JSON file exported from Focus.

Step 7: Configure Import Settings

During the import process, configure the following options:

• Annotation Type: Specify whether the tags are team‑level or athlete‑specific.
• Synchronisation Method: Select Timing Tags and choose the OpenField periods to sync against.
• Row Selection: Choose which tactical rows to import (for example, possession phases only).
• Row Naming: Optionally rename rows for display in OpenField.
• Athlete Assignment: Assign annotations to specific athletes if required.

When complete, click Import.

For further details see:

• Focus Importer Guide

Step 8: Analyse Tactical Phases in OpenField

1. Open the Timeline tab.
2. Create charts and reports using annotation data.
3. Set the data source to Annotations and use annotation categories as row labels.

You can now analyse wearable metrics (for example, meters per minute) by tactical phase, match period, or athlete selection.

For further details see:

• How to Report on Annotations
• Cloud Widgets

Part 3: Exporting OpenField Wearable Data Back to Focus

Step 9: Open the OpenField Importer/Exporter Tool

1. Log in to the OpenField Importer/Exporter using your OpenField account credentials.
2. Select the correct activity from the dropdown menu.
3. Choose the original Focus JSON file used earlier.

For further details see:

• Login: Focus OpenField Importer/Exporter

Step 10: Configure Export Settings

1. Select the Timing Tags used for synchronisation.
2. Choose which match periods to export.
3. Select the athletes whose data will be included.

Step 11: Select Wearable Data for the Focus Timeline

• Use the Efforts tab to include acceleration and velocity efforts.
• Use the Annotations tab to:
  • Select which timeline rows to export.
  • Choose which OpenField metrics populate each annotation.

You can configure data to display at a team level, athlete level, or both.

Step 12: Create and Download the Focus Import File

1. Navigate to Create Focus File.
2. Click Fetch Data to validate the export.
3. Preview the timeline to confirm required fields are included.
4. Select display options such as row colours and label formatting.
5. Click Download Focus Import File to generate a JSON file.

Part 4: Importing Enriched Data into Focus

Step 13: Import the OpenField JSON into Focus

1. Return to Focus.
2. Open Import Tags.
3. Select the JSON file generated from OpenField.
4. Enable Merge Matching Tags to combine original tags with new wearable data.

Step 14: Review and Navigate the Enriched Timeline

• Use Filters to show specific rows or athletes.
• Use Search to find data points such as velocity or acceleration bands.
• Review clips directly from the timeline and add them to presentations.

Additional labels attached to tactical tags now display OpenField metrics selected during export.

For further details see:

• How to Search and Filter the Timeline
• Adding Clips to a Presentation Walkthrough

Step 15: Advanced Analysis in Focus

• Use Quick Search to filter labels by keyword.
• Use Tag Template Outputs to:
  • Count instances of events.
  • Generate totals and averages.
  • Filter clips for deeper review.

For further details see:

• Using Different Types of Outputs in Focus Client
• Adding Images, Text boxes, and Outputs to a Template

Need More Help?

For further assistance with this workflow, contact your Catapult Customer Success representative.