Advanced Analytics has been the trend in sports for the past decade. The name of the game is simple – added information. But do not let its simplicity fool you – believe it or not, it is a multi-billion-dollar industry. With these new data available to the public, not only the insiders, managers, and team organizations are in the know. Now, fans too can discuss the game in another level.
Information on Advanced Analytics go beyond the basic stats of a sport. Now, you can actually see shifts in performance throughout the game, as well as instances, weaknesses, and strengths. It provides a trove of new data that everyone can read about. Best of all, these new numbers are a veritable playground for analysts, sports betting enthusiasts, and even casual fans.
Sports and Analytics
Advanced Analytics is incredibly popular in team sports such as basketball, baseball, and football. With all the action going on, it can be difficult to keep track of everyone involved. The fast-paced tempo of games, especially in its closing moments, make it hard to focus on one thing at a time. With these new data, you can know everything that happened. This can give everyone insight on each player and their impact in the game.
For the players and teams themselves, analytics data is also very important. These are essential in formulating game plans, finding weaknesses, and employing tactics against other teams. The more stat-savvy players can also use this to their advantage. Knowing the odds of someone’s moves, or even an opponent’s go-to strategies can be a game changer.
Traditions and Hockey
Hockey, while still deeply rooted in tradition, recently started bringing in Advanced Analytics to their game. According the National Hockey League (NHL), this is a step in the right direction for the future of the sport. This has been a long time coming – over two decades of hard work. And it all begins with the puck.
The main piece of the game, the hockey puck, will now come with pieces modern tech within. This can be used to gather info on the puck’s movement throughout the game. Other integral pieces of hockey such as player uniform (specifically the shoulder pads) may also receive the modernized treatment. Even the hockey rink itself may have scattered sensors to gather further data. This approach gives a surgical precision on each player’s statistical data while at play.
The Way of the Future
Tech built into equipment is not the end-game for analytics. This brave new world offers so much more. Players can even wear fitness trackers while they are on the game. These trackers, while seemingly just a wrist band or watch, can provide more than you can possibly know. These player data provide their team with heart rate, number of steps, and distance covered.
For coaches and medical personnel, seeing a player’s stats in real-time can give enough insight on their decisions. These can include who to play, who to rest, and performance-wise, who to rely on at that particular game.
An Eye on Health
After the games are long over, the data from fitness trackers still hold a bit of purpose. These vital stats also have a significant role in routine care, maintenance, and rehab of players. Trainers can also use these numbers to know what part of a player’s game needs honing or rest. For a physically intense game such as hockey, trainers and medical teams need all the data they can get.
Injuries, while part of any game, is more prevalent in these hard-hitting contact sports. Any part of the body can break down in the blink of an eye. With these fitness data, trainers can monitor the progress of healing, gravity of the injury, and many more. It can provide estimates on days until full recovery as well as a timetable for returns.
Tracking the Game
Fitness trackers can give the player’s team the info they need to make the right calls. For everyone else however, they can also see this and get an in-depth look at each player. Add this to the puck, the sensors on the rink, and tracking on the uniforms, and you have enough data to last a lifetime. There are plenty of things you can do with all these advanced analytics.
Fans can use these analytics to do what they have always done – discuss. From bars, stadiums, to internet forums; analysing every aspect of their sport is a hobby for many. With advanced analytics, people can discuss more about their favourite teams. Now, fans are not limited by mere scoring, time on the court, and the basic point systems. With advanced analytics, they can even predict potential when it comes to rookies and unknown talent.
Sports Betting
For those who enjoy betting on their home teams, the stage is larger than ever. Since everyone can access these advanced stats, betting on each individual category can be a blast. Proposition bets (or prop bets) are very popular in the sports betting scene. Prop bets do not involve the winners and losers. It goes into more intricate details that happened within the game.
Betway.com for instance can give you the odds, the rates, and the prizes for a variety of elements on the game. For those who enjoy watching games live, this can be an added thrill in the viewing experience.
Final Words
Hockey has evolved over the decades. While it still has its intense, physical matchups, the game trends currently to a faster-paced, skill-dominated scene. Safety standards have also increased, while also ensuring that players recover from injuries properly before returning to the rink. There is no better time to be a fan than today. With all the technology added to the game, you too can analyse the comings and goings of your favourite team.
This can be a great hobby to start. It can also be a very lucrative one, for those who enjoy their sports betting escapades. While trends change, one thing is for sure – hockey has a bright future ahead.
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