How did this profession get?

Sports analytics emerged with the emergence of sports competitions as such. For example, in the 5th century BC. in ancient Greece, during the Olympics, the winner in running was determined by a special person who had a good eye. Also, ancient analysts by eye determined the weight category of athletes in wrestling, measured the length and weight of sports equipment, such as a spear or a disc, so that all athletes were in equal conditions. At the same time, training systems were laid, and mentors of the competitors were looking for a connection between physical activity and food, between lifestyle and health.

With the emergence of major competitions in the late 19th - early 20th centuries and the revival of the Olympics, analysts in sports became in demand, moreover, they could broadcast their opinions through the media - radio and newspapers. Gradually, sports became an important means of diplomacy and at the same time a business industry with huge incomes. In every sport, competition grew - within leagues and between countries. Data and data analysis have proven to be an effective tool for achieving athletic performance and winning.

Technical innovations began to come to the aid of analysts, from detailed recordings of games and tournaments in high resolution and video replays that helped the judges make the right decisions, to smart gadgets with which you can analyze all the indicators of an athlete and improve his results.

Let's see how wide a field of work a sports analyst can work in.

What Do Sport Analysts Do?

Economic and investment management

Sport is not only about winning individual players or teams. It is still a complex and effective system, in which there is a place for the struggle for the attention of fans and spectators, the sale of paraphernalia and tickets to stadiums, advertising contracts, logistics and much more. The goal of the analysts here is to help the club or federation increase their profits and compete successfully against other clubs or international teams.

Improving athletic performance

In this case, the analyst's work is aimed at winning titles by a club or an individual athlete. The analyst collects statistics, compares them with competitors' data and makes changes that improve the result. To do this, he uses already established systems. For example, in hockey, this is the CORSI indicator - the ratio of shots: on target, off target and blocked by opponents. It helps the analyst to identify the most effective players on the team, making the best combinations from them, which leads to an increase in the club's performance.

Sports scouting

Finding sports talent is a very interesting and challenging job. The scout will have to analyze hundreds of parameters before finding a new member of the sports team. After all, it is important to find a player who is not only capable and not only one who will have certain qualities, but also one who suits the needs of this particular club. For example, a Barcelona footballer must have not only speed and excellent dribbling, but also an attacking style of play that is characteristic of this particular club.

Big Data Analysis / Global Research

Sometimes sports analysts work for government agencies or agencies hired by the government. Here they are responsible for the interaction of scientists and managers from sports for different global purposes. It can be the development of some kind of sport and bringing it to a certain level within the country and in the international arena. This can be the development of uniform rules for clubs and federations. For example, what will the limit on legionnaires in our football give? Will it contribute to the growth of the level of Russian players? Analysts build various models of the development of a situation using data sets and offer their own vision.