While some people focus on the action itself in sports, others are focusing on the data. Stats and other data have become huge, and sports teams, players and coaches are harnessing it to benefit their teams. Capturing and analyzing data is allowing them to gain major insights they can then act on to boost a team or individual’s performance.
Data isn’t of interest just to sporting teams and individuals, however. A lot of die-hard fans of a sport also enjoy studying the data and the opportunities it brings to engage with the sport more. Sports betting fans do, too, because understanding the data can aid their betting decisions. Below is a look at the role of data in sports, especially at the importance of it in horse racing and other sports.
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The role of data in horse racing
Perhaps one of the oldest examples of data use in sports comes from horse racing. For decades, the horse racing world has used stats such as lap times, the horse’s weight and age have been used to develop to algorithms for the prediction of outcomes in races.
Studying the form, a historical record of a horse’s performance in past races over a vast number of variables, is an important part of horse racing betting. The form features stats such as distance, race finishings, the going (the softness or firmness of the ground), the course type and the sex and color of the horse. These stats can indicate patterns and how certain variables influence a horse’s performance.
The power of data in other sports
As mentioned, horse racing isn’t the only sport where data use makes a difference. Here are some more sports where awareness of the data can really count and can even generate a shift in perspectives.
Boxing
Many people, when they watch a boxing match, see two individuals going to war in the ring and one coming out on top as the victor. What many don’t realize is that boxing is more of a team sport than they imagine. Although the boxer is responsible for the execution in the ring, the team around them is using the data to make strategic decisions for the desired outcome. That team are harnessing different strands of data, analyzing them and then shaping a strategy.
Football
Data collection in football has grown more and more complex. Today, football clubs are not only capturing goals, assists and other simple stats, but also data about pass success, tackles, interceptions and more. Data has become crucial in the quest to gain the edge on opponents and achieve glory and is used not only in professional clubs but at grassroots academy level and above. Football betting markets are carefully compiled based on all of the data available, the markets will shift based on recent events, such as form, previous meetings between clubs and injuries.
As well as physical data, football makes use of technical data, which allow the club to assess a player’s ability and how much of a contribution they make on the field. They also harness tactical data, which can include things like how much time a player spends in a specific area of the field, and enables the team to make strategic decisions. A player may be operating in a certain way for tactical reasons or making a level of contribution spectators aren’t aware of. The data can put a coach’s decisions into perspective for fans.
American football
The NFL, one of the biggest sporting leagues and organizations on the planet, makes grand use of data. The league even has a Big Data Bowl that challenges researchers to apply AI and other tools to football data. The league is looking for insight with a significant meaning for the football.
The nature of the research has changed. Teams not only want to know what is happening, but also why. Thanks to the data, they can evaluate not only the players who are on the ball, but also who aren’t on it. This could be a blocker, for instance, who springs a runner loose.
Swimming
Swimmers, like all other athletes, want to perform better and will use data to swim faster. As well as equipping swimmers with wearable sensors, the British swimming team, for instance, makes use of cameras fitted in training pools and above them. There’s also a side camera at side of pools to capture starts. In additional to seeking to improve performance, the team also uses to form heats teams strategically and preserve their best swimmers for championship finals. Anyone following Team GB in a championship can know the coach has put their very best team out for the nation in championships.
Data is playing a huge role in sports now, as teams and individuals capitalize on the insights to improve their performance. They’re not the only ones who are using data, however, as fans of sports and sports betting are studying it to engage with the sport or for betting.
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Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.
