Blog Sports

The EHF is Tracking Handball Analytics with the Select iBall

The European Handball Federation (EHF) establishes the Select iBall for large tournaments to measure key figures such as ball speed, shot position and distance. But that’s not all.

Team handball uses player metrics for load management and ball tracking to provide fans more information.
MunichDec 19, 2018

The Select iBall is fresh off its appearance during another major handball sports event: The Women’s EHF EURO 2018.

The Women’s EHF Euro is a biannual handball competition for senior women’s national teams of Europe, organized by the European Handball Federation (EHF). It also serves as a qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games and World Championship.

Team handball arenas are seeing more player and ball tracking being done to help improve fan engagement.

After the successful VELUX EHF FINAL 4 2018, the European Handball Federation EHF establishes the Select iBall for major tournaments. 

In a total of five matches, including all semi-finals and the final, the Select iBall was in use and measured metrics like ball speed, shot positions and shot distance. 

Want a deeper dive? Find out how Leverkusen used ball tracking during training.

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The Benefits of Ball Tracking in Handball

Ball tracking is done in handball and football to collect information like ball speed and if the ball is in or out of bounds.

The results were transmitted as TV graphics via the official broadcasting signal, where a peak audience of 8.1 million watched France win in an exciting final against Russia 24:21. Further distribution channels for these statistics were the official EHF EURO 2018 app and social media, where they created thousands of likes and shares.

Ball tracking can provide information and metrics that teams can use in social posts and during television broadcasts.

It allowed fans to experience more about the players, their achievements on the court and the pace of the game and get in conversation with each other about these fascinating insights.

If you’d like to learn more about the iBall and the technology behind it, download the brochure, via the link below.

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The Select iBall is used by the European Handball Federation to add to the player metrics being collected because it is equipped with a sensor that gives information about the ball.
Team handball arenas are now taking advantage of sports technology including ball tracking.

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