How AU’s sports teams are embracing the sports science and analytics movements

Steve Jennings wished he had access to sports science technology and advanced statistics as a player. Now Jennings, as head coach of the American University field hockey team, can integrate these new elements into his coaching system and learn together with his players.

“I would have loved it. I'm jealous of all athletes today, ”Jennings said with a laugh. “We used to have a VHS for videos and had to rewind them for different sports. We couldn't get statistics. After each game, players will now receive a video that includes all touch and defensive games instantly in one package. It just wasn't possible in the past. "

The rise of sports science and analysis has infiltrated almost all sports worldwide, from professional leagues to amateur, college, and college sports. The teams at AU are no different, diving into data that gives an in-depth look at the players' bodies and play styles. The data also helps coaches refine their tactics and practices in order to gain a decisive advantage over their opponents.

Jennings' introduction to exercise science came through his time as a coach for the U.S. women's national team program. They partnered with Catapult, a company whose data-rich wearable technology enables detailed recording of players' movements, tracking how high or low they hit the ground, or how fast they accelerate in different directions. Soon afterwards, Jennings began to apply his newfound knowledge at the AU.

From the 2014 or 2015 season, the coaches began collecting data on players' heart rates, according to Jennings. Eventually, they used a more advanced GPS technology called Polar that tracked their speed and workload in the field.

"We had to collect data for a while before we could really do anything with it," said Jennings. “We had to see how much work this exercise takes. "How much work is this game?" "How should the recovery be?" And over time, you get patterns and you figure out how to play most effectively, and then you start building a practice based on those metrics. "

This plan begins with communication between the athletes and coaches. Some of the athletes have data tracking skills but generally need time to process the new information before they can turn it into improvements in the field.

"I think people aren't that aware of that from high school, except maybe a Fitbit or an Apple Watch," Jennings said. “But they're not used to doing real hockey drills, live hockey game tracking, and data points like that. And they are always excited about it. They see it as a really big advantage that we have been able to use over our competitors and how we can make sure we get the best out of the playoffs. "

Mike Montross, an assistant coach for AU men's soccer team, said the coaching team has a variety of uses for Polar. Coaches can find out each player's stamina and “zone” them during the game to avoid avoidable injuries and make smart substitutions before someone is too exhausted.

"The players are more curious and look at the fun things like 'How fast did I run?'" Said Montross. “When we look at that, we look at how much high-speed running they are doing, changes in direction, accelerations and decelerations. Because this is where injuries will really occur. "

Tracking average speed is important because a sudden spike in high-speed running can result in injury if the hamstrings, quads, and groins aren't prepared for that consistently high speed, Montross said.

While tracking heart rate and endurance during exercise serves as the foundation of much sports science data, coaches keep an eye on their athletes during games. Staff have iPads with five “heart rate zones” for players on the field based on their portable technology.

When an athlete hits or exceeds 90 percent of their maximum heart rate, they are placed in the red zone, an indicator that they may be too exhausted to play at their highest level. For a sport like soccer, which is played on a large field and requires constant exercise and running, coaches want to keep fresh bodies on the field and keep the team healthy.

But what happens when a highly competitive player is visibly tired in the heat of the competition and needs to be replaced? How do you communicate to them that removing them is the best call for both yourself and the team? For Montross, it's about building trust between employees and athletes.

"We want to win and they want to win," said Montross. “But you just have to be smart. When someone looks tired and we turn them off and say, "Hey, I'm fine." Well, that's what Polar tells us. You've been in the red zone for the last seven minutes and flipped your last two passes ... They believe in sports science and that we want to win too. "

Jennings and the field hockey team, for example, play aggressively. This means that their perseverance pursuit and their Xs and Os often work hand in hand.

“We're trying to create a framework for what our ideal style is. And for us this style is fast, ”said Jennings. "It's going to be exciting for them because they understand that our goal is to tire the opponent so that in the last ten minutes of the game we can really take over the game with our style, fitness and energy."

Jennings continues to recognize this balance between more traditional coaching tactics and the rise of sport-specific technology as he coaches his squad. While some veteran old school coaches may be pushing back some of the new school tactics, Jennings believes everyone can work together to maximize a team's chance of winning.

"How much coaching is science versus art?" Asked Jennings. “I think you always have to have space for the art of coaching and not be completely guided by the metrics. There are times when you might want to take someone out of the game, but because of the way they play special or the dynamics of the game, it's better to just move on. We believe in our tactics, and I think you can marry tactics along with science. "

Sports science isn't the only way the AU teams dive into numbers looking for a competitive advantage. Analytics and advanced statistics also provide teams with information beyond the eye test, helping coaches understand what their team is doing well, what they can do better, and what they can incorporate into their game plan.

"We don't have COVID right now, but there are a number of companies you can send them your games to and they'll break it down statistically," said Montross. “After the game, we get the percentage of each player's passing game and also the percentage of each player's forward pass. Won tackles, lost tackles, headers won and lost. "

Montross says they used a company called InStat that would provide the team with the analytics they were looking for. This season, the coaching team has broken down the feature film themselves to get those advanced metrics.

As technology advanced, Jennings and Montross recognized that their teams were in a quasi-arms race with opposing programs to coach their teams as effectively as possible through science and statistics. While the technology and the numbers may be new, the idea of ​​keeping up with the latest in sports and staying ahead of your competitors is as old as the times.

"As a coach, you are always looking for new ideas," said Montross. “If you think you have all the answers, then you will pass. You always have to be creative and get better technically, tactically and safely in sports science. "

abranch@theeagleonline.com

More from The Eagle

continue reading https://dailytechnonewsllc.com/how-aus-sports-teams-are-embracing-the-sports-science-and-analytics-movements/?feed_id=6097&_unique_id=61d0b6074b051