The global sports analytics market is expected to grow from $3.2 billion (2022) to nearly $16.5 billion by 2031.
From GPS tools to track running to algorithms to predict match results or heat maps in football pitches, data for sports has become something indispensable for amateur athletes and sports professionals alike. Now, certain companies are leveraging this data to take it to the next level and optimise sports performance in new and innovative ways.
Data In Action: MVP Football Academy
One of the companies leading by example when it comes to using big data in sport is MVP Football Academy, the first football institution in Valencia utilising video analysis and data to train and enhance its players. The project was created by Agustín Alabau, a Spanish professional coach with international experience, aiming for the overall development of the players.
“The idea of introducing the data into training allows us to identify in which exercise the player has failed and how many times. From there, we can objectively improve their technique; that is the key to MVP”, explains Alabau.
Integrating Big Data On The Pitch
A professionally licensed football coach, with both national and international coaching experience, and a Masters degree in Big Data applied to Football Scouting, Alabau adopts a data-based training approach.
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Through the integration of video cameras and specialised software for data processing, Alabau´s players gain invaluable insight into facets of their performance such as accuracy of shots and identifying missed opportunities. From this, he uses his expertise as a coach to prepare personalised training techniques to help them improve their game and make better decisions on the field.
Tech’s Role In Transforming The World of Football
Top-tier teams have already been benefiting from technology and analytics. For example, teams like Real Madrid have implemented advanced data treatment systems, focusing primarily on physical metrics. This allows them to monitor players’ current conditions and compare them with historical data to assess their physical status accurately.
Similarly, Brentford has an innovative scouting team that allows them to discover high-potential players in less competitive leagues. With these players, they conduct quantitative analyses to identify those with the best statistics, tailored to the first team’s playing style. This data-driven approach supports informed decisions about potential recruits.
Global Interest In Big Data
The methodology has reached beyond Spain, and several clubs have shown interest in how MVP Football Academy´s methodology work: from the Spanish 3rd division to clubs in the Middle East and even teams from the Non-League.
“We´ve seen Big Data´s ability to help us as coaches improve player performance, data offers us full objective analysis which we can use alongside a personalised coaching to allow players to achieve their goals.
In the near future, data will be central to every professional football team and become increasingly important in semi-professional football clubs.”
