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The Monumental Impact of Sports Analytics

Sports data is now a megatrend. Merging information and knowledge makes it possible to analyze and interpret correlations and patterns where people initially only see chaotic amounts of data.

Coaches are using sports data during practices and games to assess how fast and strong athletes are so they can apply the information during games.
MunichMar 25, 2015

Analytics gain importance in everyday life and business to foresee flu epidemics or the termination of a customer contract – and has meanwhile also caught the attention of sports professionals. 

What started with the manual counting of passes, shots or the covered distance of players, has now emerged to an innovative industry around sports data. 

Coaches, scouts and doctors realize the importance of frequently analyzing sports performance data of athletes in order to make decisions based on reliable information, which complements their subjective interpretation.

Our case study explains how a women’s handball team in the Netherlands harnessed the potential of sports technology to unveil misperceptions and enhance player management.

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Embracing the Power of Sports Analytics

Distance is just one of the player metrics that teams in multiple sports are now relying when it comes to using sports data and the analytics.

The match analysis department is the most important department for me”, emphasized Pep Guardiola when he started coaching Bayern München.

And he is not alone: Manchester City employs 11 experts focusing on athlete analytics, David Moyes worked successfully with performance data in Everton, whereas the technological awareness is already high in various US sports. Information about tactical patterns, counter attack indexes or fatigue barometers can make a difference – not only during the training but also in decisive game situations.

Wearables Redefine the Future of Sports

Wearables collect sports data for coaches and analysts to help them build predictive models around data and make informed decisions.

However, the collection of the necessary raw data to calculate relevant indicators is challenging. KINEXON Sports has developed a wearable technology that enables the seamless detection of motion data with a micro sensor, which is attached to the athlete’s back. The lightweight device tracks centimeter-accurate 3D-localization and motion data, which is then analyzed by an analytics engine in real-time. 

The result: KPIs about motion, orientation, performance and health that help to improve training, technique and tactics. The statistics are intuitively visualized on a mobile device to enable prompt adjustments – and to simplify the analyses for the coaching staff. 

There's No Match For Real-Time Data

Sports data is collected by wearables and organized on a dashboard for coaches to read.

KINEXON Sports not only provides accurate data in real-time but is also an easy to handle portable system, which can be setup within minutes. All components fit in one suitcase”, says Managing Director Dr. Alexander Hüttenbrink who co-founded the Munich-based company with Dr. Oliver Trinchera in 2012.

Well-known partners work with the innovative sports technology that was developed in cooperation with the European Space Agency and Technische Universität München (Munich).

After intense testing, it is now time to guide teams from all over the world to the next level – which is why Kinexon participates at the Sports Analytics Innovation Summit in London on March 25 and 26 to discuss technological trends with sports representatives from all over the world. Our goal is clear: To sensitize the leading players for the three dominant keywords in athlete analytics: Precise. Simple. Smart.

Learn more about KINEXON Sports products for your sport by viewing our webinar on emerging technology in sports.

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