What’s the Secret Behind The University of Arizona’s Sports Data Collection?
At the University of Arizona, sports performance coaches are leveraging data to optimize player performance and safety. Two key figures in this data-driven revolution are Jim Krumpos, Associate Athletics Director, Sports Performance, and Dayannara Munoz, Assistant Coach of Performance Enhancement.
On a recent episode of “The Xtra Edge” podcast, Coach Krumpos pointed out three critical factors that make all the difference in their data collection efforts and training style.
Munoz is pursuing a second graduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Arizona and an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with the United States Air Force. She’s an MIT graduate who loves to crunch numbers. “She’s the brains behind the operation,” Krumpos said. “I think it’s important that coaches have someone who can help them understand the data and can help explain it, even if they have to go raid the math department to find someone,” he added.
Use a Drill Index and Session Load Planner to Plan More Efficient Practices
Collecting Data on All Players
But having someone to explain the data is only the beginning.
Krumpos also believes that data is a crucial tool for ensuring that all players, including those who don’t play regularly, are prepared to perform when called upon. He says, “The data is the most helpful tool for me when I can make sure that the players that aren’t playing a lot… are receiving the proper load throughout a season, so when they do have to come in, they’re ready to go, and there’s not a huge drop off with their conditioning or whatever their ability to jump multiple times.”
Before the advent of data, coaches relied on their knowledge of the sport, the coach, and the style of play. But now, with data, they can quantify performance and identify discrepancies. Krumpos shares, “We were doing the best we could, but we didn’t really have numbers to put to that. So that’s where I’ve seen it very helpful.”
“The data is the most helpful tool for me when I can make sure that the players that aren’t playing a lot… are receiving the proper load throughout a season, so when they do have to come in, they’re ready to go.”
Data Tells a Better Story About Athletes
In his experience, Krumpos has learned that data helps tell a more detailed story about his athletes.
It can help coaches understand why a player might look fatigued or seem to lack effort.
Krumpos recalls a time when data helped identify a player who always seemed deconditioned, despite meeting conditioning drill requirements. Upon analyzing her heart rate and HRV data, they discovered she was deficient in some minerals and wasn’t sleeping enough. Addressing these issues improved her heart rate and performance level.
Sports Analytics Complete the Puzzle
Munoz, who transitioned from the private sector, appreciates the technology available at the university. “In the private sector, most gyms lack technology, so coaches base their decisions on previous lifts or load intensity and their perception of the player’s rate,” she said.
Munoz says the data provides an extra piece of the puzzle, allowing coaches to make more informed decisions and create the most useful strategy. As Munoz puts it, “It’s really cool to kind of see pieces and have them come together so that we can make the best plan that is the most effective.”
“It’s really cool to see the pieces and have them come together so that we can make a plan that is the most effective.”
Learn More on “The Xtra Edge”
The University of Arizona’s sports performance coaches are harnessing the power of data to enhance player performance and safety. Tune into this episode of “The Xtra Edge” to hear more about their approach, and how it exemplifies the potential of data-driven decision-making in sports performance coaching.
You can also learn about the viral video Coach Krumpos was a part of during the 2016 College Baseball World Series.
And if you want to learn more about how you can collect sports data to improve your team, feel free to reach out to us at any time. Or check out our guide that can help you to get started managing your players’ workloads.
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