Since the first ancient Olympics in 776 BC, humans have been continually breaking records on the racetrack and redefining athletic capabilities. Over the millennia, factors such as improved infrastructure and improved facilities, a better understanding about nutrition, diet coupled with consistent training has help elevate mankind’s physiology. That however, only tells half the story. The other half of the equation lies in the significant strides made in sports science and technology.
How is Data Analytics Used in Sports?
Today, sports organisations are channelling resources into sports technology to monitor and enhance athletes’ performance, safeguard health, and speed up injury recovery. These tools are rooted in analytics that translates data into pivotal insights.
Technical Performance Monitoring
A core application of data analytics in sports science that individuals aspiring to work in the industry may encounter is its use in monitoring athletes’ progress and benchmarking against set expectations to evaluate performance. For instance, a football coach might set a standard for midfielders regarding pass completion rates or specify a desired speed for wingers. Such metrics then shape performance blueprints, enabling comparisons between players within a team or against competitors.
To achieve this, modern technologies are also deployed, and one such device is the 3D motion camera. For instance, if you pursue a career in the sports industry in the future, one tool you might come across during data gathering and analysis is the speed gate. Speed gates, which sports science students at PSB Academy can experience in the ‘Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise’ and ‘Assessment and Conditioning for Sports Performance’ modules, are used to measure an athlete’s speed. This is achieved through leveraging infra-red signals, which document the precise moment the beams are interrupted.
The 3D motion camera, another tool PSB Academy’s sports science students will be exposed to in the ’Performance Analysis and Player Monitoring in Sport’ module , can be used to craft a 3D representation of an athlete’s skeletal framework. This enables precise motion tracking, providing coaches with insights into joint trajectories and movement patterns.
The granular level of analysis highlights inefficiencies or vulnerabilities in an athlete’s motion, empowering coaches to craft training strategies that focus on specific areas and hone micro-movements. In sports demanding intricate manoeuvres, like gymnastics, it highlights portions needing refined precision.
Tactical Analysis
Another area of data analytics application is tactical analysis, which offers coaches deep insights into the outcomes of their strategic decisions during games. From data on the skills demonstrated to players’ positioning on the field and timings, sports analytics technology like cutting-edge video assessment tools and player tracking systems will capture diverse gameplay data.
For example, a soccer coach may observe that an opposing team frequently builds their attacks from the left flank or that a particular basketball team tends to run a pick-and-roll play under certain circumstances. Analytics can also illuminate insights on the performance metrics of each adversary, such as a player’s shooting accuracy. Recognising these tendencies allows coaches to determine the best player combinations and strategic substitutions to boost their team’s effectiveness
Physiological Optimisation
Data analytics also goes beyond just training and matches. Coaches, athletes, and sports scientists utilise data to develop personalised recovery strategies through data collected from the athlete. This includes the training intensity and duration and the type of activities participated by the athlete outside of training. Based on the information, recommendations on the optimum amount of nutrients and sleep duration needed to facilitate a quicker recovery are made.
The reverse can also be done. Recorded data on athletes’ nutrition and sleep duration and patterns can help predict the physical and mental performances of the athlete during training and on match day.
Injury Prevention
If you desire a career in sports injury management, sports analytics is also employed in performance monitoring through technology like GPS trackers, wearable technology with video assessments or other indicators. With the help of devices, such as a wearable heart rate monitor, coaches can gauge athletes’ training intensity and the physical strains they encounter during practices and matches. Understanding these nuances thus helps in modulating training session intensities enhancing recovery strategies to safeguard player welfare.
Likewise, you will find the 3D motion cameras invaluable as they enable physiotherapists to analyse an athlete’s movement and training level and formulate targeted rehab plans for faster recovery. Meanwhile, the real-time feedback also helps injured athletes to engage in movement retraining more effectively.
For students pursuing a sports science degree at PSB Academy in Singapore, you can combine these advantages with what you’ve learned from the Exercise Rehabilitation modules. Through this, you can achieve synergy in your approaches to athlete health and performance.
Advance Your Sports Aspiration with PSB Academy
In the dynamic world of sports, being familiar with the latest tools of the trade isn’t enough. To thrive in your future career, knowing how to apply your knowledge is equally vital, and this is where a sports science degree from PSB Academy shines.
The full-time Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Sports Science) and part-time Bachelor of Sport Science and Exercise Science (Top-Up) at PSB Academy are offered respectively by our esteemed partners, Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Edinburgh Napier University (ENU).
Notably, ECU ranks among the top six universities in Australia for sports-related subjects, as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, and ENU ranks among the top nine Scottish universities for sports science, as per the Complete University Guide Subject League Table 2023. With both institutions’ accreditations in sports science education, you can trust that the university’s robust curriculum comprehensively covers breadth and depth.
Believing that learning should not just be confined to textbooks, PSB Academy’s sports science courses include lab sessions to put the learnt theoretical concepts into practice. Delivered in an industry-standard sports lab dedicated to refining athlete performance through advanced sports science technology, you will have opportunities to put theory to practice.
For students under the Edith Cowan University sports science programme offered at PSB Academy, your learning is further complemented by the inclusion of 140 hours of supervised practicum. During this practicum, you will engage in sports internships or industrial visits in Singapore, enabling you to gain industry exposure and undertake hands-on learning, setting the groundwork that helps you ease into your future career quickly.
The path to mastery is often guided by experts, and at PSB Academy, you can be assured that you are in good hands. Our sports science faculty comprises certified personal trainers and seasoned sports coaches with a wealth of practical industry insights.
For those with a relevant polytechnic diploma qualification, you can even benefit from module exemptions, possibly completing your degree in 12 to 48 months. And if you are just exploring the sports science discipline, PSB Academy also offers foundational certificate courses and sports science Diploma programmes.
Need help determining which sports science programme can better support your career aspirations? Speak to our programme consultants today, and let us guide you on progressing towards your dream career.
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