Smarter sport | Saturdays.AI

Sport, according to the RAE "Physical activity, exercised as a game or competition, the practice of which involves training and subjection to rules." Let us not be surprised that in the future dictionaries will include the definition of "Smart Sport", since for years numerous technologies have been integrated that help the execution of this activity.

This article explores some applications of AI in sport. Football, athletics, baseball, American football and motorsport have adopted technologies to analyse and improve performance..

How is artificial intelligence used in sports?

AI systems can support data analysis and some decisions made by athletes, coaches and officials. Their usefulness depends on data quality and validation. Here are some areas of application:

Performance measurement: during a match a large series of data is collected that in past decades were impossible to measure. Nowadays, thanks to AI in training, it is possible to receive feedback in real time and create personalized training programs for players, tailored to each athlete’s data. Researchers also explore models or “digital twins” to simulate aspects of performance. Estimating injury or disease risk requires specific clinical evidence; it should not be presented as a guaranteed capability of any model.

Refereeing: in July 2022, FIFA announced that it would use semi-automated offside technology at the World Cup in Qatar. The system combines player and ball tracking with alerts for video match officials, who validate the information before reporting it to the referee.
Strategies. Thanks to all the analysis provided by AI, coaches are able to know how their rivals play, how they should confront them, which players to use according to the context... In short, they have access to a large series of data that makes their task easier.

How has sport changed thanks to this technology?

In cycling, for example, measurements of effort, intensity, altitude and gradient can be combined to study performance and plan strategy. Collecting data is not the same as using AI, but it provides a basis for developing useful models.

On the other hand, in several sports we have a method known as "moneyball", a revolutionary model that is based on “big data” to support recruitment. The film Moneyball, directed by Bennett Miller, dramatises Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics’ use of statistical analysis; the real approach preceded the film.

Soccer

In football, Brentford is a well-known example of using data to support recruitment and management. When this article was published, the English club played in the «Premier League» , following its rise through the lower divisions. Statistical analysis and scouting were part of its strategy for making better use of its budget; it would be inaccurate to attribute the entire rise to a single technique.

Future of sport

The future is somewhat unpredictable in most cases, but seeing cases of how some sectors such as video games, tourism, etc. have evolved, we can predict that one of the keys to the future of smart sports will be virtual reality.

Virtual reality can help athletes review situations and practise decisions in simulated settings. In motorsport, for example, simulators let drivers practise circuits; in golf, they can help players rehearse shots. Simulation quality and the transfer to real performance need evaluation.

Here is an example of how virtual reality is applied in training.

Open video or resource

Virtual reality also offers new ways to follow sporting events remotely. Immersive experiences in basketball and other events had already been explored when this article was published. They aim to bring the action closer to people who cannot attend the stadium, though the experience depends on the device and production.

Ethics/Technodoping

On 12 October 2019, Eliud Kipchoge covered the marathon distance in under two hours at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, under specially arranged conditions. He wore a prototype that would become the "Nike Alphafly". The example raised questions about how materials affect performance and which advantages are acceptable. Innovation and clear rules need to advance together to maintain fair competition.