How Data Analytics is transforming Sports Performance – Captivating

The latest buzzword in the business world today is Data Analytics, a science where data is being used to build models to achieve better decision out of those models. Business dictionary has expanded the definition of Data Analytics as “studying the past historical data to analyze the effect of certain decisions or events or to evaluate the performance of a scenario. The main goal of analytics is to improve the business by gaining knowledge which can be used to make improvements or changes”. At present and going forward we will have to accept that the Data is a new OIL/FUEL and source for anything. Advancement of technology with unbelievable momentum on digitization is the key reason that leading us towards data driven world. On top of it, we have started to achieve intelligence other than human brain from Machine by feeding data termed as Artificial Intelligence.

Descriptive, Predictive and Prescriptive are the three different branches of Data Analytics. Prescriptive analytics not only predict about what will happen in future but also tells what should be done if the prediction varies. And this is the turning point why individual business vertical like finance, retail etc have efficiently adopted Data Analytics. Sophisticated sensors, high-end DSLR camera, video recorder and other live movement capturing devices used in various sports activities, contribute to generate data for further analysis.
Post analysis of players’ activities in a competition or tournament is a thumb rule for the coach to offer accurate guidance/ enhanced training for further improvement. By understanding the importance of data, advance countries have started consolidating different types of data, captured in various sports devices and subsequently are conducting analytics for extra-ordinary performance for the players in international tournament like Olympics.

Please have a look in the above video ( Source, Eurosport Player Website www.eurosportplayer.com )to understand better how data has been captured and analyzed to understand the body position, starting position and various body part movement of the winner and how he performed differently from rest of the competitors in running race. This type of analysis would provide sufficient data to the coach to formulate model for players so that the pattern of the regular practice can be improved. Besides, it can be considered as a tip of ice berg to evaluate many best possibilities to train the winner for new world record. Data analytics in sports has already been adopted as hand-holding support for future prediction by the coach but not penetrated deeply yet. We will have to be more matured enough to leverage data with smart Artificial Intelligence’s algorithm.

Written by
Gautam Goswami

Can be reached for real-time POC development and hands-on technical training at gautambangalore@gmail.com. Besides, to design, develop just as help in any Hadoop/Big Data handling related task. Gautam is a advisor and furthermore an Educator as well. Before that, he filled in as Sr. Technical Architect in different technologies and business space across numerous nations.
He is energetic about sharing information through blogs, preparing workshops on different Big Data related innovations, systems and related technologies.