Attractive Sport tells how artificial intelligence and machine learning began to be used in sports, what they are used for now and what are the forecasts for the future
Artificial intelligence helps athletes and coaches in various aspects. It can analyze the results of games and performances using machine learning algorithms. AI helps formulate recommendations on how to improve training efficiency and prevent injuries. In addition, technology makes sporting events more entertaining for fans.
Recruitment Assistant
The Man Who Changed Everything tells the story of an American baseball team that was one of the first to use analytics to build a competitive team on a small budget. This story actually happened in 2002 with the Oakland Athletics. They used what in baseball is called a sabermetric approach .
It is a combination of several traditional statistical methods to provide a deeper analysis of players’ performance during games and understand their value to the team as a whole. As a result, the Oakland Athletics were able to compete with some of Major League Baseball’s top teams, such as the New York Yankees, whose payroll was more than double that.
More than 20 years ago, this approach seemed amazing, but now AI can help teams hire the most qualified staff. Teams and coaches use tracking technology, such as the NBA.
They receive statistical and tracking information about each player from 11 motion capture cameras that are installed on each playing surface. This way you can track what percentage of each player hits the hoop from a given distance.
Careful study of all aspects of the game allows teams to identify young talent and predict their potential before investing in them. AI helps coaches improve their game strategies: analyze common mistakes, identify the strengths and weaknesses of their team and opponents.
In football, Liverpool became one of the pioneers in the use of big data and artificial intelligence. In 2019, he began collaborating with French startup SkillCorner, which collected data from European domestic league players during matches and turned it into animation.
Initially, the company provided it to bookmaking companies so that they could use this visually attractive material on their websites. Liverpool, having received such data, was able to look for talented players in different countries.
The fact is that usually information about the games of mid-level teams in local leagues does not go beyond the borders of the country, and sometimes even the region, and few people know about the presence of young talents in them. Also in 2019, the club’s business went uphill and it won the Champions League final.
In 2021, Liverpool transferred video recordings of all league games from 2017 to 2019 to AI startup DeepMind with the goal of creating a virtual assistant coach that would help adjust tactics during matches. It is expected that such an assistant will be created within five years.
It is expected that in the future, the expertise of AI systems in many sports will be higher than that of qualified specialists. And their implementation by 2026 will increase by 24.9% compared to five years ago and will become available to teams of different levels.
Unbiased judging
They rely on computer intelligence not only in recruiting, but also in sports refereeing. Thus, since 2001, systems based on Hawk-Eye technology have been used in football competitions. It determines the trajectory of the ball and in difficult situations helps to determine whether it has crossed the goal line.
The system processes data from cameras around the perimeter of the field and transfers it to a 3D model. In each frame, it selects those groups of pixels that contain an image of the ball, and then records its position in 3D. For the reliability of the model, a clear picture from just two cameras is sufficient. At the same time, bad weather or a crowd of players on the field do not interfere with the “Hawk Eye.”.
When everything is ready, the system gives an answer whether the ball crossed the goal line and reports this to the referee within 10 seconds. Thus, there are no long delays in the game.
The system was developed and began testing by Roke Manor Research in 2001. “Hawk Eye” has both supporters and opponents: the former talk about fairer refereeing, the latter say that automation destroys the special competitive spirit.
The same system is used at most major tennis tournaments – it uses six to ten cameras located around the court to create a three-dimensional image of the ball’s trajectory. The result of this simulation then appears on the big screen and players can use it to appeal the judge’s decisions, with the AI’s verdict being final. Wrong decisions by linesmen and referees are often overturned.
Safety
AI is used in stadiums for more than just real-time analytics. Don’t forget about security issues. Artificial intelligence systems help recognize faces and perform quick body scans. Thanks to such tools, potentially dangerous fans are deprived of the opportunity to enter sports arenas.
In 2018, a facial recognition system from NtechLab worked in Moscow at the FIFA World Cup. In 2019, Panasonic announced the installation of a facial recognition system – FacePRO – at a Danish football stadium. And in 2020, facial recognition was used to identify those who did not wear a mask at the stadium during coronavirus restrictions.
Help for sports commentators
Broadcasters and producers are using AI to deliver automated, personalized and more engaging storytelling. For example, it helps select interesting moments in real time so that social media managers can be the first to share “hot” content with the audience. In this case, the AI analyzes the movements of the players and the atmosphere in the stadium.
AI-based speech-to-text systems are also useful for the media – they help make instant transcripts of the speech of sports commentators and even translate them into other languages.
However, AI itself can tell what is happening at a sports competition: for example, in 2023, it partially replaced commentators at the Wimbledon tennis tournament and commented on short videos with highlights of matches.
Wearable technology for health tracking
In everyday life, many people use devices that monitor their health. In sports, there are even more such devices : smart bracelets, inertial sensors, local and global positioning systems, connected sneakers, smart clothing and heart rate monitors – they all provide important data.
Smart device sensors track important information about an athlete’s performance even during the game. A player’s speed, distance traveled and acceleration can be recorded in real time using RFID chips or GPS trackers embedded in the uniform. This information influences important decisions during the game.
For example, if the coach sees that a player is very tired, he can replace him. And after the game, such data is used not only by coaches, but also by experts and fans to analyze the match.
All this supports athletes’ performance at a high level, ensures maximum training efficiency and improves results during games. It also helps detect early signs of fatigue and stress, prevent musculoskeletal injuries and cardiovascular problems.
AI in amateur sports
Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee, speaking to an audience at the Olympic Museum at the end of 2023, noted : “We must take advantage of the opportunities that AI provides now.
Without a doubt, this will change our lives and sports. AI could revolutionize athletic training. It has the potential to revolutionize refereeing, sports broadcasting, the spectator experience, and the organization of sporting events. This list is endless.”
The global sports analytics market is projected to reach a valuation of $22 billion by 2030 , and the global AI market for sports is projected to reach $19.9 billion. AI has already become an integral part of the sports industry, and its role will continue to grow.
It helps athletes improve their performance and makes sports safer and more spectacular for spectators. In addition, every year technologies become more widespread and, as a result, cheaper, which allows them to be used not only in professional, but also in amateur sports.
