How Sports Analytics Rose To Become The Game Changer

By Joshua Parker


Tracking statistics was once viewed as the domain of commercial environments. But as technology continues to make inroads everywhere, a huge number of sports teams are now using data to drive action on and off the field. Coaches and their assistants are using powerful sports analytics tools to stay ahead of the competition.

No coach wants their star players to sit out matches because they're injured. And in some sports where the chances of getting hurt are quite high, finding effective ways to minimize injury levels is crucial. A number of teams have thus started using wearable gadgets and fitness trackers to gather data that would help detect, monitor and prevent injuries. Further analysis of the collected information could also help pinpoint causes of performance declines, such as poor sleeping habits. All in all, teams are able to keep their prized players fit while also reducing medical and insurance costs.

Although the vital determinants in team sports are quite hard to quantify, predictable patterns can still be observed. This is the reason why most teams now use videos of past matches in their preparations. Besides analyzing the game film, they also acquire stats on each player to identify strengths and weak areas of their opponents. This way, their ability to adapt to dynamic tactics and utilize their own strengths is significantly improved.

Smart analytics tools can allow clubs to improve their squads without needing additional funding. Teams are able to pick effective players at low costs while getting rid of high-cost individuals who don't meet expectations. Thanks to qualitative and quantitative comparison of different players, it becomes easy to pick those who suit the club best.

Besides performance improvement, the wealth of statistics has made sports more compelling for fans. Clubs are now gathering data as they seek to improve how their supporters experience and enjoy the action. And in the current era where improved home viewing has caused ticket revenues to tumble, the importance of giving fans a participatory role cannot be overstated.

A number of teams still find it difficult to adopt statistical analysis due to the language barrier that exists between IT personnel and coaching staff. The best way to overcome this is to facilitate easier communication throughout the whole entity. From coaches and their players to statistical experts, everyone should learn the practices of effective communication and how to utilize available technical resources.

In future, data gathering and analysis will play a bigger role in professional sports. For instance, experts are exploring how statistical analysis could help players improve how they cope with the emotional aspects of sport. More breakthroughs can thus be expected as the field continues to mature.

In the past, teams have mainly relied on coaching and a few tangential factors to achieve success in their fields. With better access to data analytics tools, huge developments can be expected in time to come. And the drastic shift won't happen simply due to data availability, but rather as a result of better communication between groups who previously struggled to achieve this.




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