fast-forward

Fast, Rust-powered tracking data loader for soccer analytics.

fast-forward loads tracking data from all major providers into Polars DataFrames with a unified API. Built on a Rust core for speed, it handles parsing, coordinate transformations, and orientation normalization out of the box.

pip install fast-forward-football

Key Features

• 12 providers supported with a consistent load_tracking() interface
• Polars DataFrame and PySpark DataFrame support for fast, memory-efficient data processing
• Coordinate transformations between all major coordinate systems
• Orientation normalization to ensure consistent attacking directions
• 3 layouts (long, long_ball, wide) for different analysis workflows

Benchmarks

fast-forward's Rust core is significantly faster than pure-Python alternatives. See the full Benchmarks page for details.

Quick Example

from fastforward import secondspectrum

dataset = secondspectrum.load_tracking(
    raw_data="tracking.jsonl",
    meta_data="metadata.json",
)

# Access data via properties
dataset.tracking    # Polars DataFrame with tracking data
dataset.metadata    # Match-level metadata (1 row)
dataset.teams       # Team info (2 rows)
dataset.players     # Player roster
dataset.periods     # Period boundaries

# Transform coordinates
transformed = dataset.transform(
    to_coordinates="opta",
    to_orientation="home_away",
)

Supported Providers

Provider	Format	Files Required
CDF	JSONL + JSON	2
GradientSports	JSONL + JSON	3
HawkEye	Per-minute text + JSON/XML	Multiple
OptaVision	Text + XML	2
Respovision	JSONL (embedded metadata)	1
SciSports	EPTS XML + Text	2
SecondSpectrum	JSONL + JSON	2
Signality	JSON (per-period)	3+
SkillCorner	JSONL + JSON	2
Sportec	XML	2
StatsPerform	MA25 text + MA1 JSON/XML	2
Tracab	DAT/JSON + XML/JSON	2

Next Steps

• Getting Started - Installation and first steps
• TrackingDataset - Understand the data structure
• Coordinate Systems - How coordinates work
• Providers - Detailed provider documentation

Credit

This project owes a depth of gratitude to Kloppy and the hard work put into that project by all its contributors. Without their dedication and commitment this project would not exist. 💙

Providers

CDF

Common Data Format. JSONL tracking plus JSON metadata.

GradientSports

JSONL tracking plus JSON metadata and roster.

HawkEye

Per-minute ball and centroid files plus JSON or XML metadata.

OptaVision

Colon-delimited text plus XML metadata.

Respovision

JSONL with metadata embedded in the same file.

SciSports

FIFA EPTS XML metadata plus colon-delimited positions text.

SecondSpectrum

JSONL tracking plus JSON metadata.

Signality

Per-period JSON tracking files plus JSON metadata and venue files.

SkillCorner

JSONL tracking plus JSON metadata.

Sportec

XML tracking plus XML metadata.

StatsPerform

MA25 text tracking plus MA1 JSON or XML metadata.

Tracab

DAT or JSON tracking plus XML or JSON metadata.