Big data is not only transforming the way we think in business but also in the way we think in sports. While Money ball comes to mind when thinking about Big Data, the truth is that the world is experiencing a sort of data revolution, where Big Data is being used not only to record and analyze team performance on the field, but is also playing a huge part in player calling, staffing and of course, player training.
The power of the latest technologies and more specifically, Big Data is slowly changing everything, and is being increasingly used in sports to point out anomalies, connect with fans and improve the overall experience of an audience. Ever since the movie “Moneyball” hit screens back in 2011, almost every team has a data scientist on the payroll, leaving many to ask the question, what’s so big about “Big Data”? Like Oakland A’s General Manager, Billly Beane (aka Brad Pitt), big data can help turn any small market team into a perennial contender and here’s how.
The Rise of Digital Playbooks
If you’ve had the chance to enter a locker room, you will probably see a digital playbook. Coaches have started to use tablets not just to organize their entire playbook, but also teach their team’s plays and team philosophies. With the help of Big Data, teams are now able to study their playbook via the cloud to memorize game plans. Big Data is also being used by teams to analyze and predict their opponent’s footage, this enables them to map out tendencies and weak points so that they can plan their strategies accordingly. The data, videos and processing capabilities are all stored on secure cloud or central servers for easy access whenever needed.
Large Scale BYOD
A great example of using the power of Big Data to one’s advantage can be given of Stanford University. Over the past couple of years, college football programs have invested millions on their stadiums, so that they can interact with the thousands of fans that flock to the stadiums come game day. Stanford University and other colleges across the US are using Big Data to make their facilities capable of handling smartphone and other handheld devices of their fans. Not only do they let fans use their smartphones during the game, but also allow them to connect directly to the stadium’s network so that they get all the latest gaming stats in real time along with the ability to watch replays as well. This without a doubt helps enhance the gaming experience of the fans and takes it to a whole new level of interactivity.
Primitive Paper Money
Taking it up a notch when it comes to using the latest technologies, are the Sacramento Kings, lead by Vivek “Mr. Realtime” Ranadive. A software entrepreneur at heart, Ranadive has purchased the already struggling team and believes that he can turn things around for the better, with the help of Big Data technology of course. All set to open for the 2016-17 season, the Sacramento Kings’ new arena will take real time data collection and communication to new heights, by not only introducing a centralized paperless system but also encouraging fans to give inputs on everything from the best camera angles to focal point analysis
Ending Note
It is without a doubt that Big Data enables managers and coaches to capture a vast amount of data which can then be analyzed to help teams stay ahead of the curve. And in years to come, Big Data will surely have a positive effect on professional sports.