How to become A Sports Analyst

• Sports Statistical Analyst 
• Sports Data Analyst 
• Sports Statistician
• Sports Market Research Analyst
• Sports Sales Analyst
• Sports Performance Analyst
• Digital Sports Analyst

What do Sports Analysts do?

A Sports Analyst would typically need to:

• Offer pre- and post-match analytical insights into how athletes and teams perform, using scientific methods to produce and interpret statistical data, which can help optimise decisions
• Monitor, record, code and edit live footage of sporting competitions, matches and training sessions; gather real-time information to create detailed reports
• Analyse trends by uploading videos to update the performances database and updating the statistical database and training logs
• Share results and information with authorities and coaching staff using computer graphics and internet technologies; give feedback to players
• Liaise with coaches and players in training and competitive environments to ensure performance improvements through various strategies 
• Meet with the performance staff to gather, centralise, record and report data, such as the heart rate of athletes
• Educate the coaching staff and prepare players or the team for upcoming matches by providing analytical insights into the opposition teams
• Help coaches scout new players, from an analytical point of view, to join the team
• Maintain filming and video capture equipment in excellent working condition

Sports Analysts spend most of their day analysing data and preparing reports. They have regular meetings with coaches to understand their requirements and produce relevant insights to help them train their athletes and finetune their technical skills.

As a Sports Analyst, you may frequently travel for work. Sports Analysts employed by a specific sports team are more likely to travel extensively to match locations and sporting events as a part of their regular duties to generate an analytical report. If you work as a sports journalist, the network or station that employs you and your role would determine your travel distances and frequency.

Sports Analysts typically work full time and may put in even 10 to 15 hours per day, researching and analysing sports news and data and keeping the fans hooked in the game by discussing the game and strategy on TV. There is neither a fixed shift nor an assigned schedule. Work hours vary depending on the matches and are likely to be extensive as the job involves spending long hours observing players and teams and learning more about the sport in which you specialise or wish to do so. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Sports Analysts can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Sports Analysts  are generally employed by: 

• Professional Sports Teams 
• Colleges & Minor League Teams
• Sports News Organisations
• Television Studios

Professional associations and organisations, such as the ISPAS – The International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport, are crucial for Sports Analysts interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Meeting the expectations of coaches, some of which may be unrealistic with regard to time and desired outcomes
• The need for excellent analytical skills and communicating with non-statisticians
• The highly competitive job market
• Heavy pressure and long working hours to meet deadlines during matches; lack of work-life balance
• Extensive travelling that may be required according to match locations

Any academic program that a potential Sports Analyst takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship or joining a journalism department. The careers or journalism department at your university and your professors may be helpful resources to guide you in the right direction.

Engaging with school and university newspapers and broadcasting programs will help you gain hands-on knowledge in sports analytics and develop your broadcasting skills, while strengthening your resume. It will provide exposure to the real world and a platform to establish critical networking connections that could give you an instant leg up and lead directly to graduate employment.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in sports analysis to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

To become a Sports Analyst, aspiring candidates must first earn their bachelor’s degree choosing their major based on their interest and the role they intend to play. Sports Analysts may work in media as sports journalists or broadcasters or for specific sports teams. Either way, they must build breadth and depth of sports knowledge and sharpen their memory for facts and figures. 

If your interest lies in broadcasting, you may major in journalism, broadcasting or communications, constantly strengthening your written and oral communication skills. Such programs typically include news reporting, media ethics and sports psychology. Learning to analyse and interpret raw data from a specific competition and identify trends for an audience is critical as these will form an essential part of your job. 

If you are keen on the statistical aspect of sports, you may opt to major in mathematics, statistics or data analytics. You would need to learn to carry out data-driven research & analysis to help the team you work for enhance its performance.

Some employers may also consider bachelor’s degrees in other subjects, such as political science or English. In such a case, supplement your program with coursework in public speaking, marketing, public relations, sports media and broadcast news writing to improve your job prospects.  Classes in digital marketing, programming, coding and multimedia design will enable you to use graphics, audio, data and video across multiple platforms.

Some Sports Analysts may choose to pursue further studies by acquiring a master’s degree in applied sports performance analysis to support athletes or work in a research role. You would learn how to objectively observe and record sports performances, using consistent and valid methods of quantifying key performance metrics to guide improvements.

Take high school mathematics, physics, biology, computer science, and English classes.

Certification demonstrates a Sports Analyst’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement and become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert or MCSE Business Intelligence Certification is highly valued. It validates your professional competency and equips you with the skills necessary to design and use SQL to deliver data-based solutions. You may want to get a certification in specific computer languages, such as Statistical Analysis System (SAS).

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high performance levels may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.

If you work with a news organisation, you may advance within the firm or move to a different or larger market in metropolitan locations. This change will likely result in new challenges and responsibilities accompanying greater repute and sizable paychecks.

Relevant academic qualifications and experience in quantitative and data analytics will accelerate your job prospects. So will skills in computer programming, communication, advanced mathematical techniques and modelling, and the ability to interpret and present their data and findings.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Sports Analyst build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

To stay abreast with evolving technology, you may consider taking in-person or online courses in business analytics, statistics, and data visualisation techniques. Business administration courses may prove helpful in building your business acumen and giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

What is Data Analytics?

Examining raw data to find trends and draw conclusions about the information they contain is called data analytics. Data analysts use automated and mechanical processes and algorithms to enable organisations in making better-informed business decisions. 

The Game Plan of Sports Analysis

Sports analysis aims at equipping team managers and athletes to plan training and competitive strategies. Sports Analysts also generate information and interpretations to help sports leagues and journalists report on sports events and competitions, track the performance of individual players or teams, and decide on award winners.  

Skills That Will Make You a Front Runner 

First and foremost is the knowledge of the sport, tactical and technical. As a Sports Analyst, you need to understand the sport you are analysing for the team to be successful. You are part of a team, and that team’s goal is to win. Your attention to detail is exceptional.

Building a network is essential, too. A good relationship with the coaches and players is crucial as it helps to understand data better, analyse it and give valuable insights to the coaching staff. It will also build the team’s trust and confidence in your abilities. For a Sports Analyst, communication is the key to binding all the other skills together. 

Math, IT and research skills are necessary for generating and understanding large volumes of complex data. Try to get a good grounding in analytics software and programming languages, such as SQL, R or Python.  Knowing data visualisation tools, such as Tableau or Looker, will help you present patterns in the data and other findings clearly and simply to your audience.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Sports Analysts have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk. There are no paid holidays, and sick/maternity/paternity leaves are almost unaffordable. There is the added pressure of a self-employment tax and no eligibility for unemployment benefits.

On the other hand, a full-time Sports Analyst has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

The movie Moneyball paints the true story of Oakland A’s Billy Beane and how he used the amalgamation of sports and statistics to scout talent and win against teams with much bigger budgets.

A Sports Analyst is a high-profile position, which does not come easily. You must dedicate several years to become eligible. Much sweat and personal sacrifice go into achieving success. However, once you make it, you will have a lucrative salary and a chance at considerable fame. The competition is tough, but the rewards for those who succeed are plentiful.

Sports Analytics is mainly self-taught. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of opportunities that might seem stressful at first. Challenge yourself. It will pay off. Just as reaching out to people and teams will.