Behind the Scenes: How KINEXON Sports Data is Being Used at EHF Euro 2024

We’re still providing the full picture of what happens on the field at EHF EURO events, and due to cooperation with University of Alicante EHF EURO gets deeper insights and scientific analysis of the players’ tracking data. 

But new for this year, EHF EURO is allowing us to open the coaches’ dashboard to all federations and sharing the data with them. They can have access to data on load management metrics (like running speed) via the coaches’ dashboard or see things like shot maps and shot speed through the media dashboard. And they can track it live, or post-match. 

A lot of the data we’re providing is shared on the EHF EURO homepage on its website. And the ball data is shared during the broadcasts and sometimes on social media. So, if you’re registered as a media partner at EHF EURO, you can use you account to just get access to the simple or reduced set of media data.

The KINEXON Sports sensor that is worn under their uniform shirts, collects specific player data, while the sensor in the ball collects throwing and passing data, as well as shot speed.

The coaches’ dashboard provides detailed information on load on every player. KINEXON sports scientists take this information and make it understandable for teams, coaches, and players. 

The media dashboard displays a breakdown of the metrics in an easy-to-read format for fans, broadcasters, and social media managers to enjoy.

Some metrics that stood out at EURO 2020 and 2022 include the 327.60 kilometers (about 203.56 mi) France ran while competing at the EHF EURO 2022, ahead of Spain who had 324.94 km (about 201.91 mi). And Czechia’s Stanislav Kasparek’s fastest shot at 139.76 km/​h (about 86.84 mph). 

Ball speed is one of the most popular metrics because everyone wants to know how fast the ball is moving. Then you can track top speeds in a game, or in an entire tournament. 

Change of direction, acceleration and deceleration are also popular metrics, as is airtime. How long can someone ​“fly”, per se, and how high can they jump? The sensor measures the time from impact (jump) to impact (land), and everything in between. 

We are also tracking passes and the paths ratio. This is interesting, especially for playmakers and the combination of playmakers, and the line players. Also, the passing rate and the passing accuracy is really relevant for coaches.

To compile this data, the EHF Euro 2024 relies on KINEXON PERFORM LPS. It’s the gold standard because it is the most precise sports tracking system on the market — in all sports and environments. 

One of the major strengths of KINEXON Sports solutions is the ability to provide accurate information, which is critical. It’s not easy to track handball because it’s a fast sport that’s played on a small field. 

A handball field is 40 meters long, and less than that after accounting for goal space, so you have players who are accelerating and decelerating (very important handball metrics) within a roughly 20-meter space. So, we’re dealing with a lot of short-track max accelerations, and then track top speeds on a much shorter range than say a football (soccer) field. 

Teams and federations use the data to get a clearer picture of the court action, which benefits them in the long run. It helps them to precisely measure the physical and physiological demands and gather positional data during the matches, so they can identify the best performance indicators for a successful team. 

Players also like the size of the player tracking device the KINEXON PERFORM LPS system uses because it is so small and lightweight, they hardly know it’s there, especially when they land on the field. 

They don’t want the added pain of a player tracking device piercing them, and with PERFORM LPS, it does not happen. This is important because handball players dive and hit the floor an estimated 30% during each game.

And did we mention that the ball is roughly the size of a honeydew melon? It’s not very big. But we can track it because of the size and the accuracy of the sensor in the ball. It can measure the speed, spin, and trajectory of the ball and detect events such as goals, passes, and shots, and provide feedback to the players and coaches. 

We’re even tracking running distance (and other load management metrics) on the referees for the federation to use internally. 

Add it all up, and it’s what makes KINEXON Sports unique.

Collecting data and turning it into insights for the coaches and players to use, but also for the media and fans to enjoy, helps to make the game more understandable for everyone involved.

Coaches and players can improve performance, while fans and the media get a better idea of how good these athletes really are.

The next step is to take that data and find other uses for it, like betting (fastest shot, longest shot, etc.) and partner sponsorships. 

The Men’s EHF EURO 2024 will be another opportunity for the handball community, both fans and specialists, to use this data. It’s no secret that live tracking and performance data will be an integral part of handball in the future. 

If you’d like more information on KINEXON PERFORM LPS, download the brochure via the link below. 

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