Even though
big data’s reputation is primarily associated with the business realm, it has
evolved to aid in professional athletic performance through sports data
analytics. Big data is quickly becoming a valuable strategy for sports teams
everywhere to place emphasis on internal tendencies and external factors in the
quest for improvement. Motion tracking data systems have been used by
professional sports teams, like the NBA for example, contributing to their
success. Wearable sensors are also used by professional athletes to help
monitor stress levels and performance. The wide variety of data points
collected with these technologies leads to relevant results based on the database
automated algorithms to help improve player stats.
I found it
interesting that the major professional sports leagues in America all employ
data analytics teams to better their strategies; the MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and
the NHL all employ data analysis tools to uncover information that “goes far
beyond what normal statistics show.” I also found it interesting how much the
games played in the NBA have changed since the use of big data analytics
through motion tracking technology. For instance, after findings from the
tracking technology, there is much greater emphasis placed on 3-point shooting
and high tempo games. In fact, Duke University was one of three teams in the
NCAA league in 2015 to utilize STAT’S LLC SportVU Player Technology. This
technology tracks players in games and in practices in ways that could’ve never
been possible before. A wide variety of data has resulted, such as secondary
assists and player tendencies. Duke has used such data to “self-scout”
themselves, leading to their overall team improvement and strategies, and
ultimately to their NCAA National Championship win. Lastly, it is worth noting
how big data is used to help athletes and teams take preventative safety
measures. Motion tracking sensors allow data analytics to detect when a player
is under high levels of stress, indicating whether the athlete needs to rest or
not.
The article
failed to address the subjectivity of athletics, and only displayed the
objective data collection that can result in better athletic performance. A
player’s game can in fact be affected by physical training, but the player’s
psychological state has a large impact on his/her game as well. Data analytics
are incapable of monitoring an athlete’s personal psyche and game mentality
with the current data collecting technology. The article also overlooked the
fans’ participation in big data as it becomes more heavily involved in
professional athletics. Lastly, the article briefly mentions how the “Moneyball
Phenomenon” inspired this use of big data analytics in sports, yet it fails to
explain and elaborate on it.
I feel it will get to the point in the near future that wearable sensors will not only be able to just track stress levels, exhaustion, and performance, but also be used to help teach athletes to perfect their form. The technology is out there now just like in the popular ESPN segment, Sportscience, where they bring in popular athletes and measure their speed or strength. With that same data, their movements can be tracked and corrected. The best example is the possibility of having sensors on a basketball player's wrist, elbow and shoulder during practice and having all the data to show the mechanics of the his/her shot, and be able to perfect it. Once this technology with big data will be cheaper and more accessible, the sky is the limit for athletes.
ReplyDeleteWearable technology has transcended the way we view physical activity and performance over the last couple of years. I agree with Allie that these devices, although in analyzing athletes physical performance, lack the ability to analyze all the components that are incorporated in an athletes behavior, specifically their mentality. The mental state of an athlete is extremely important due to high stress levels and becoming overwhelmed in high pressure situations. Not only does their mental state affect themselves, it also affects the team. I believe that adding features to track brainwaves can drastically change the dynamic in a which teams work together to achieve overall performance excellence. Also, she make a important point on safety. Athletes are highly susceptible to physical injury during games, training, and practices. However, through wearable technology it is possible to track movement and agility in order to prevent athletic injury. Overall, it is impressive what wearable technology can do right now, but with a few tweaks I think these wearables can truly transform the way athletes and physically fit individuals care for their bodies and minds during physical activity.
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