converting your data into intelligence. more than a sports analytics company.
custom analytics
Convert data into action.
Whether you’re drowning in data or unsure of how to start your data journey, the Kitman Labs Data Science Team is here to address your specific needs, regardless of size or pain point.
Our Custom Analytics
offerings range FROM:
providing previously unseen
intelligenceabout players and the organisation.
informing daily management and
game-day decisions.
We have a robust data science team that is continuously producing analysis and strategies to add value and clarity for the organizations we work with.
CUSTOM ANALYTICS OFFERINGS
- Data healthDH
- Success landscapeSL
- injury ReviewIR
- head coach/ Manager SelectionHM
- Bespoke ProjectsBP
THE CHALLENGE
Collecting data is only the first challenge. Understanding that data, knowing if it’s accurate, and using it to answer the right questions is equally as critical. Often organisations don’t know whether the data they’re collecting is relevant or if it’s being used the right way.
Our solution
Kitman Labs’ Data Health offering is made up of three core parts:
The performance science index
The Performance Science Index (PSI) gives teams a clear picture of their data collection processes in one place, and allows the team to see where they sit in reference to their peers and what improvements can be made to reach specific outcomes.
Data Quality Review
Data Quality Review provides a clear picture of the quality of a team’s data, and its usability for analytics to help answer questions they are most interested in while giving clear next steps on how to improve the quality of their data.
Data for Analytics Audit
Our Data for Analytics Audit provides an objective comparison of the level of data collection presumed to be happening within the organisation vs the actual practice.
What you get
A full view of your data landscape
Expert advice on how to direct your resources around data into the most effective areas for your needs
Visibility into the return on investment for data sources
A greater level of confidence in reporting, analysis & analytics using your data
A step-by-step guide to improving your existing data, and improving practices to improve quality on an ongoing basis
Insight into the questions analytics can help answer with your data
Improved management and oversight of data practices in the organisation
THE CHALLENGE
Sports organisations often have concrete goals in mind, from winning championships to avoiding relegation, but they don’t always know what it takes to get there. From hiring the right personnel to identifying the best players, there are so many variables to consider that it can be hard to know where to focus, or what the right solutions are.
Our solution
Performance Context
How many wins does a successful team get? How many goals/points/runs do they score? Do they perform better at home or away? Where do their goals/points come from in games?
Squad Composition
How large are successful squads? What is the age profile of successful teams? How experienced are the players of successful teams and what level have they played at? How good are their players? Are any positions more important than others? How many players contribute to outcomes?
Recruitment Approach
Do successful teams spend more money? Do they bring in more paid transfers or do they rely on loans and free transfers? What is the age and experience of players brought in? What leagues do successful teams recruit from?
What you get
A view of what it takes to be successful given your specific context
A comparison of similarities and differences between your organisation and successful teams across a number of categories
Highlighted changes that may lead to strategies being developed, that can lead to your team achieving success
THE CHALLENGE
Assessing injuries is a full-time endeavour, but during the course of a season there’s not enough time to step back and examine how injuries are occurring, to whom they’re happening, and whether they’re in line with expectations.
Our solution
Injury Review provides a clear picture of the type, volume and severity of injuries that occur historically and during the course of a season.
Your medical staff can easily understand the impact that injuries had.
gain insights on where and how injuries are occurring relative to key factors:
- age profile
- position
- game schedule
What you get
An understanding of the extent and gravity of each injury situation
Knowledge on where to focus efforts around injury prevention, return-to-play protocols, training methodology, planning and periodisation
THE CHALLENGE
Head coaches and managers are critical to an organisation’s success. They influence staffing, player recruitment and wins & losses. But finding the right coach has been a largely subjective process full of bias, with no clear metrics that can accurately predict success.
Our solution
Working from a team-provided short-list, we provide an objective view of the head coach / manager market.
Based on Factors like:
- historical performance
- recruitment strategies
- age profile
- impact of their arrival at previous teams
- squad composition
- game schedule
What you get
A head coach / manager selection process based on objective criteria aligned with the team's long-term vision/mission
Greatly reduced level of bias in the decision-making process
Removal of unsuitable candidates from the process at an early stage
Improved clarity in what other key questions could be useful in interviewing potential candidates
Discovery of candidates that would have been otherwise overlooked
THE CHALLENGE
Most sports organisations know they want to use data to enhance their processes and outcomes, but there are so many variables—from cost, to implementation, to process—that they don’t know where to start.
Our solution
Kitman Labs’ Data & Analytics Consultancy provides teams with bespoke data strategies that are informed by practitioners and data scientists who have worked with hundreds of teams.
What you get
The confidence of having an objective view to face data-related challenges as they arise
The ability to identify where to spend money around data collection and storage, which will help answer the key questions you have to achieve you own particular set of desired outcomes
Seen & Heard
Integrating Data and Philosophy from Academy to First Team
Ian Buckman, Academy Manager at Brighton Hove Albion F.C., highlights the club's integrated approach to player development, aligning the academy's philosophy with the first teams. The club effectively tracks player progress by sharing profiles and data between coaching and recruitment. Their Football Intelligence Platform ensures coaching consistency and evidence-based player development, reinforcing the club's commitment to data-driven practices.
Strategic Technology Adoption for Holistic Student-Athlete Care
Mark Coberley, Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine at Iowa State University, emphasizes the importance of a question-first approach when adopting new technology in athletic program development. He argues against the common mistake of purchasing technology without a clear purpose. Instead, he advocates for identifying key questions that need answers before choosing the appropriate technology.
Impact of Growing Fixture Schedule and Congestion on Injury - or Not
As footballers face an increasing number of fixtures across club and international competitions, concerns about rising injury levels are growing. Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, addresses the potential impact of fixture congestion on player injuries on SkyNews, emphasising that it's not just about the number of games but also how teams train, prepare for congestion, and manage player rotation. While some speculate that more games might increase risks, Stephen stresses the importance of data-driven analysis.
Unified Data Platforms, Streamline Workflows
On the Game Changer Podcast, Renee Kleszczynski from Michigan State University, discusses consolidating the efforts of performance coaches, athletic trainers, and strength coaches by integrating their data in one unified platform. This allows them to focus solely on their roles without additional tasks. This allows for the maintenance of accurate records and enables advanced capabilities and insights, which ultimately enhances their contributions and the overall performance management of athletes.
Mobilising Data for Different Users
On the Game Changer podcast, Joshua Rucci from the University of Georgia, shares insights about using flexible, configurable reporting to mobilise data and support various sports and their unique user needs. He explains how coaches can track metrics such as daily jump performance and compare them to historical data. Additionally, he implemented customisable, alarmed dashboards using a simple color-coded system based on rolling averages, allowing coaches to identify areas needing attention quickly.
Inside Tactics: The technology that helped Ipswich reach the Premier League
Sky News and Sam Blitz visited the Ipswich Town Training Grounds to interview Director of Performance Andrew Rolls and Kitman Labs Founder & CEO Stephen Smith. They discussed the club's multifaceted partnership with the high-performance technology company and its role in its successful bid for promotion to the Premier League.
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