Metrica Sports: Revamping data extrapolation and analysis

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Metrica Sports - PLAY
Image via Metrica Sports

In 2023, every inch counts. Whether it be on the field, the gym, or the training pitch. Coaches and players alike are desperate to obtain as much information as they can on their game, in a way in which they can digest and utilise to better their performance.

Metrica Sports is revolutionising the data analysis space, with applications across a variety of sports, including American football, basketball, rugby, and football. Using the Metrica Cloud Engine, Metrica Sports PLAY unleashes the potential from automated tracking data, with data packs suited to all levels of the game, enriching presentation, and video sessions. Metrica Sports offers a free version of the software, to allow smaller teams to test this out to determine the best possible options for the success of the club.

Metrica Sports has partnered with more than 300 professional teams across 80 countries worldwide.

PLAY goes one step further than the competitors. It visualises data in more than just graphs and charts. PLAY shows live 2D fields with moving markers to outline structure in play, in reference to where the ball and opposition is. This can be beneficial to coaches to determine if there is a hole that can be exploited more so by the opposition, such as being too compact in transition allowing the opposition to nullify counter attacks.

PLAY offers 3 methods of tracking players in game, each of which have their own benefits. Manual tracking takes the longest and allows coaches to manually select what in any given frame they want to analyse. However, what they select only covers a single frame, and must go through and select what they want across different frames.

Automatic tracking takes almost 1/3 of the time, with the ability to manually opt in or out of selected targets on the field to track. Metrica uses the example of tracking a defensive line as the ball is shifted onto the sideline, as one defender is engaged, showcasing the distance between the other defenders, and their direction changes to suit.

Automated tracking is similar to automatic but is simply effortless. Everything is tracked already, the ball and all players are tracked, and you can choose what to extrapolate from the data it collects, as well as how long into a recording the software needs to extrapolate the data from.

But with so much data and analysis, will some things may be overlooked? No chance. PLAY allows for playlists of clips from a match can be generated with tags to filter out of highlights and clips exactly what a coach or analyst wants to extrapolate. For instance, PLAY can allow generate tags for all clips that include building out from the back, by determining when there is possession in the defensive third. Along with attacking clips, transition etc., the ability to phase these out and only select the building out from the back will save an abundance of time, allowing coaches to further zone in on what is really important in these clips, and develop a strategy to overcome any issues found.

PLAY has a variety of analysis options for how coaches and staff want to structure a video session with players in preparation for the next match or look back at last weeks. Coaches have the ability to upload entire match long pieces of footage, and can either manually, or as described before, have PLAY’s Metrica Cloud Engine do all the hard work for you. The options are limitless for any football club who wishes to strengthen their analytical and tactical capabilities.

PLAY’s automated tracking data saves countless hours to provide a superior product to coaching staffs across the globe. Tagging clips with key phrases allows coaches to quickly find examples of focal points in the match to be analysed and investigated. The easy to navigate software is easy for both coaches to use, but to also present to other staff, board members and players, with relevant and appealing graphics as opposed to traditional stats and graphs. The automatic tracking feature can allow coaches to opt in and out of necessary analytical points to cater to what coaches explicitly want.

For more information on how Metrica Sports can benefit your coaching staff, click here

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ESA’s Game-Changing Technology for Injury Recovery and Player Growth

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Credit: Elite Skills Arena

Elite Skills Arena (ESA) has created cutting edge technology that is revolutionising injury rehabilitation and player development in football.

ESA is a company that designs and provides advanced football training technology used by top clubs and academies around the world. 

Founded by Eddie Mitchell in 2014, ESA creates innovative tools that help coaches track performance and develop players more effectively.

By combining smart tech with insights from leading coaches, ESA delivers data-driven solutions that improve training and sharpen key skills on the pitch.

When the company first settled on the idea of a circular wall with moving targets, the plan was to create an indoor space where players could work on their technical skills.

What started as a simple concept quickly took shape—so much so that the very first prototype was built in a backyard just to see if it would work.

That early test led to the launch of the first product and the creation of the now-iconic arena that remains a core part of what ESA offers today.

Currently, ESA offers three main product lines: the ICON range, the Wall range, and the Wireless range.

Each one has seen great success with professional clubs, academies, major organisations for marketing and events, and advanced training centres around the world.

Today, ESA products are used on six continents, and they’re getting close to a major milestone—1 million games played with their equipment.

But there’s one product in particular, the Wireless Circuit, that’s revolutionising injury rehab and player development in football.

Now ESA first tested the Circuit concept at Ipswich Town and Southampton Football Clubs in the UK.

But it was FC Barcelona who asked for a wireless version, eliminating the need for connecting cables.

The Wireless Circuit is made up of lightweight, cable-free modules — the Rebound, Pass-Through, and Gate — each featuring LED lights and vibration technology to give instant performance feedback.

Using motion sensors, the modules track passing, movement, and dribbling, while built-in modes recreate tactical game scenarios, making it a powerful tool for both training and recovery.

Since its introduction, the Wireless Circuit has been used extensively by Barcelona’s medical team during pre-season and injury rehabilitation.

Stars like Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Agüero and Ronald Araújo have benefitted from its data-driven approach, which benchmarks fitness levels and reduces the risk of re-injury.

The club has used the Wireless Circuit for the later stages of rehabilitation which has allowed players to build up match sharpness without being exposed to the danger of full-contact training.

Following the success at FC Barcelona, the Wireless Circuit has been making waves in the global sports world, having been nominated for Best Technology for Injury Prevention or Rehabilitation at the prestigious Sports Technology Awards.

With more than 50 installations across the globe, it’s quickly becoming a go-to choice for clubs and academies looking for reliable, cutting-edge solutions.

With injuries on the rise in elite football and top players spending more time on the sidelines, Premier League clubs are paying closer attention.

Leicester City FC, who’ve been interested in ESA technology for a while, recently added the Wireless Circuit to their sports science program to help monitor player fitness and support injury recovery.

After a successful demo in September 2023, they’ve started using the Rebound, Pass-Through, and Gate modules to help keep first-team players healthy and make rehab smoother and more effective.

Now the Wireless Circuit could offer substantial benefits to soccer clubs and organisations in Australia due to its unique combination of technology, portability, and proven performance outcomes.

Clubs from grassroots to A-League level can often face challenges in managing injuries, especially with limited access to advanced rehab facilities.

The Wireless Circuit enables low-risk, high-impact recovery by allowing players to rebuild match fitness through targeted, non-contact drills. This is particularly valuable in a sport where muscle and ligament injuries are common.

Also, with clubs becoming increasingly data-focused, the Wireless Circuit’s built-in motion sensors and instant feedback allow coaches to track a players movement, passing and dribbling

This gives coaches a more scientific, structured approach to player development, something especially useful in youth programs and academies.

So, as football continues to evolve, ESA’s Wireless Circuit stands at the forefront, offering a smarter, safer, and more effective way to train, recover, and develop the next generation of players.

Superloop Scores Major Goal with Football Australia Partnership

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Image credit: Football Australia

Football Australia (FA) has today inked a landmark deal with telecommunications heavyweight Superloop (ASX: SLC) in a massive boost for the prestigious Hahn Australia Cup competition.

The telco challenger has secured naming rights as the official category partner for the Cup and also committed to revolutionising the sports broadcast capabilities through cutting-edge AI technology.

Superloop founded in 2014, is an Australian telecommunications company and internet service provider (ISP) that offers high speed connectivity to consumers with NBN deals and new AI connectivity.

The Hahn Australia Cup will benefit enormously from Superloop’s involvement as the telco giant looks to bolster its brand presence among the football market.

The multi-faceted deal will see Superloop deliver bespoke connectivity solutions, including business-grade NBN internet and mobile data services and AI technology cameras distributed to fields around the country.

This will support not just live broadcasts but also real-time collection of match and player statistics.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson described the collaboration as a pivotal moment in FA’s digital transformation.

“In today’s connected world, high-speed, reliable internet infrastructure is paramount. Superloop’s expertise and technology will allow us to deliver a more dynamic and engaging live streaming experience to fans nationwide, while unlocking cost efficiencies and new revenue streams for the sport,” Johnson said via FA official press release.

Already, Darwin Football Stadium has been kitted out with Superloop’s dedicated high-speed NBN connectivity, powering 4K resolution streams of all Men’s and Women’s Premier League fixtures.

The agreement blends well for Football Australia’s recent centralisation of live production and distribution for over 3,500 matches annually, spanning state leagues to flagship national competitions.

Superloop Group Executive for Business & Wholesale, Daisy Stampfer, highlighted the company’s commitment to Australian sport.

“We recognise the transformative power of connectivity in sports broadcasting and are committed to delivering the high-performance network solutions that will power FA’s vision for the future of football streaming.”

“Our exclusive sponsorship of the Hahn Australia Cup and our connectivity partnership with Football Australia underscores our dedication to supporting the growth and innovation of Australian grassroots sport,” Stampfer said via official FA press release.

This is a huge new step for Australian Football at all levels giving all clubs in the country and competitions support with the streamlined viewership nationally to enhance the game at little cost for the clubs.

For businesses such as Superloop, the football community is an untapped industry for them to help develop, market and stand out.

The footballing environment creates great publicity for the company and enduring respect in the community for future endeavours.

The strategic relationship promises a new era of digital engagement with the beautiful game, from suburban pitches to national showcases.

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