Data analytics is a powerful tool that has been used for years in a variety of industries to spot patterns in data, provide insights, and suggest future actions for companies or organizations based on these findings. Data analytics continues to have applications in a range of professional sectors that rely on numerical data for information, from healthcare to government to retail.
The world of professional sports has been using analytics for years now to provide information to teams so that they can gain an edge over the competition. Many stakeholders, both on and off the field, benefit from the insights derived from sports data. Sports analytics offers key insights to coaches and athletes about how performance can be improved, as well as for fans who are betting on their favorite team to win the big game. Professional scouts, managers, associations, and sports broadcasters all rely on the information provided by sports analytics to make accurate predictions about a player or a team’s performance.
The field of sports analytics is currently in demand, as more people pursue professional sports as a career option, and as the interest in monitoring and tracking players’ performance continues to rise. Many new technological advancements, like cloud computing, machine learning, and wearable sensors that monitor athletic training, are changing the way athletes train, compete, and even manage their professional careers. This is why it’s projected that the global sports analytics market will be worth $4.6 billion by 2025.
With all this new data being created, the need is greater than ever to find efficient methods to interpret it. This article will explore some of the main uses of sports analytics, as well as the benefits this form of analytics provides to various stakeholders.
How Sports Analytics is Changing Professional Sports
In the 1990s, data analytics was introduced into the sports industry. In the decades since, this technology has been used by amateur, college, and professional athletes to improve athletic performance, increase audience interest, and enhance marketing strategies.
- Coaches use data-driven insights to make decisions about which players to recruit to their team. This consideration depends not just on obvious talent, but also on who may be the best match to fill their team’s unique needs. In addition, coaches also use sports analytics to devise winning strategies that are not predictable but are effective against the competition.
- Broadcasters rely on sports analytics to inform their commentary on a game or match. In the past, sports broadcasters typically reported what was happening in the competition. Now, however, data analysis has offered insights into not just player statistics, but other pertinent information that can improve their engagement with the sport, as well as its entertainment value.
- Fans have more avenues into entertainment and engagement, thanks to the advent of fantasy sports. Those who participate in fantasy sports leagues use the information provided by data analytics, such as batting average or injury reports, to craft their desired team. Millions of fans in the US actively participate in fantasy football, which provides them with an additional way to engage in the game, even from afar.
- Athletes use sports analytics to hone in on areas in which they need to improve, as well as how they can best play on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses during competition and training. With the help of performance indicators and new metrics, athletes can add a competitive edge to their game that training or talent alone cannot provide. In addition, insights derived from data have helped redesign sporting equipment, such as soccer balls and football helmets. Studies have also been done on a baseball’s spin and surface roughness, which can affect trajectory, as well as ball-hitting equipment such as cricket and baseball bats.
- Communities often experience an increased sense of local pride and confidence surrounding a team’s performance, as well as their likelihood of future success. The story sports analytics can tell about athletes’ histories and potential for success helps to amp up local support and enthusiasm.
- Sporting leagues and franchises benefit financially from the insights sports analytics provides. Analysts can provide information about fans who attend games, such as their attendance record and in-stadium purchases, in order to inform sponsor targeting and fan engagement. This fan information allows decision-makers to provide more targeted merchandising options for sports enthusiasts, both in the stadium as well as at other locations.
The above-mentioned benefits provided by sports analytics have a direct effect on player performance, team success, and fan engagement. Focusing on the insights derived from data has changed the face of professional sports, and is likely to continue to transform the sporting experience for all stakeholders.
Hands-On Data Analytics Classes
A great way to learn more about how to perform prescriptive analysis on data is to enroll in one of Noble Desktop’s data analytics classes. Courses are offered in New York City, as well as in the live online format in topics like Python, Excel, and SQL.
Other great data analytics classes are also available from top providers. More than 130 live online data analytics courses are currently listed, in topics like FinTech, Excel for Business, and Tableau, among others. Courses range from three hours to six months and cost from $219 to $27,500.
Those who are committed to learning in an intensive educational environment may also consider enrolling in a data analytics or data science bootcamp. Over 90 bootcamp options are available for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students looking to master skills and topics like data analytics, data visualization, data science, and Python, among others. These rigorous courses are taught by industry experts and provide timely, small-class instruction.
Are you looking for a data analytics class nearby? If so, Noble’s Data Analytics Classes Near Me tool provides an easy way to locate and browse approximately 400 data analytics classes currently offered in in-person and live online formats. This convenient tool makes it easy to find the class that’s a match for your professional goals and budget. Course lengths vary from three hours to 36 weeks and cost $119-$27,500.