In 2024, it is safe to say that people live in a world of data. Not only do the biggest companies in the world make their bread and butter by extracting information from internet searches, but they also digest this information to get an idea of what to do next. This works in pretty much every field of existence, including sports.
From Fan Engagement to Betting and Analysis
Nowadays, being a sports fan is akin to being a researcher. With all the modern technologies, enthusiasts have access to a very large choice of information about their favorite, including the past performances of every player in the big leagues, starting with soccer and American Football.
Data analysis isn’t only useful for placing a wager on a game night. It is also a formidable tool for coaches, trainers, and managers who need to manage various aspects of a team.
Data analytics seems to exist in sports to offer every team a fairer chance to win. Let’s discover the many advantages of data analysis and how long-term strategies and risk-taking decisions are still vital to every sport.
Significant Improvements for Sportsmen
People like to see a professional athlete’s body as a machine—it needs to be fed, maintained, and trained with great care. The most famous footballers already have an army of nutritionists, trainers, massage professionals, and even personal cooks. In exchange, all data concerning the athlete is considered, from heart pulse rate to the last performance from the previous game.
Modern technology has made data tracking even more efficient and fast. With the help of smartwatches and other devices, it is possible to track the variables of a human body with ruthless precision. This way, it is easier to determine if a player is in top shape. Overall, these things have been great for sportsmen and women worldwide. It is easier to work on one’s weaknesses if one knows exactly what to do and when to do it.
Anybody with a keen eye for soccer can relate: the most prestigious players on the field often wear a tracker vest during training and match days. It is very important to analyze every player’s move just to see what he can improve during game day.
This type of tracker – which can look like a sports bra, depending on the model – is also used to determine the possession of the ball throughout a game, amongst many other variables.
Including AI in Sports Strategy
All the data collected online must be agglomerated and digested to become valuable information. Since 2022, we have seen a rise in tools based on artificial Intelligence. This technology has gained immense popularity in the last three years. Is it able to predict the outcome of every football match in the world? Certainly not. Even these tools certainly have their pros.
First, they are able to determine the possible outcome of a game because of data collection. Before this technology appeared, it was much more difficult to predict a team’s performance based on past matches. Because data collection has a wider range of variables – health and performance of players on a wet field, etc. – it might do a good job finding the most likely possible outcome.
Managers and trainers should sometimes avoid these hard, cold stats and try to figure out things independently. Once again, there are a lot of variables in sports, and athletes aren’t machines.
Does it take a human touch to make a sports decision? This human touch won’t ever be replaced by data tracking and fancy AI software.
Data Analytics From a Punter’s Point Of View
It’s a very good time and place to be a punter in this day and age. Not only does one get access to a gazillion bets worldwide at any second, but they also get access to a gazillion bets worldwide. Someone can also pick predictions from a vast ocean of data and numbers that will probably help them make the right choice while placing a wager.
Stats, data, numbers! Indeed, there are more numbers than the eye can see and more stats that sports anchormen worldwide can comment on. Sometimes, choosing a match’s predicted outcome can be a daunting experience. AI prediction tools can help. Some people have tried it recently and got lucky with numerous matches.
Sports companies have understood this. Die-hard betters can pay good money for advice and tips from well-known sports enthusiasts and retired athletes. The demand for AI prediction tools is rising every day, which attracts many scams. However, some software has a proven record of successful bets. Sorry, they cannot guarantee that they will win every time, though.
All The Things Data Analysis Cannot See
Because AI predicting tools and data analysis strategies can’t always get it right, each punter must go with their gut feeling, knowing that some sports are notoriously hard to predict. Data analysis is a very good tool, but it cannot do much regarding unpredictable scores, such as soccer or golf. Due to many variables, these two are considered the hardest sports to bet on.
