Although off-line learning methods can be useful in the above cases, there may also be advantages to learning incrementally as well. For example, particular aspects of an opposing teams' behavior may render a fixed passing or shooting behavior inefective. In that case, the ability to adaptively change collaborative or individual behaviors during the course of a game, could contribute to a team's success.
At a higher level, team issues such as role (position) playing on the field might be best handled with adaptive techniques. Against one opponent it might be best to use 3 defenders and 8 forwards; whereas another opponent might warrant a different configuration of players on the field. The best teams should have the ability to change configurations in response to events that occur during the course of a game.