Modeling human running on a soccer field

Question

In a soccer game, I am computing a steering force using steering behaviors. This part is ok. However, I am looking for the best way to implement simple 2d human locomotion.

For instance, the players should not "steer" (or simply add acceleration computed from steering force) to its current velocity when the cos(angle) between the steering force and the current velocity or heading vectors is lower than 0.5 because it looks as if the player is a vehicule. A human, when there is an important change of direction, slows down and when it has slowed enough, it starts accelerating in the new direction.

Does anyone have any advice, ideas on how to achieve this behavior? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Make it change direction very quickly but without perfect friction. EG super mario

Edit: but feet should not slide - use procedural animation for feet

Answer 2

Maybe you could compute the curvature. If the curvature value is to big, the speed slows down. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curvature

Answer 3

This is already researched and developed in an initiative called "Robocup". They have a simulation 2D league that should be really similar to what you are trying to accomplish.

Here's a link that should point you to the right direction: http://wiki.robocup.org/wiki/Main_Page