Certain skill sets and stats are relevant to each sports league for different reasons when they scour players for recruitment in 2022
Goal-scoring, for example, translates differently in sports like football and hockey. When it comes to breaking down full hockey coverage, analysts hash out the goal-scoring capabilities of top stars to predict how a game will pan out.
Explained Which Stats Are Most Important For Scouts During Recruitment By Sports Teams In 2022
Football, with a range of specialized offensive and defensive positions, requires a more in-depth look at stats to make similar predictions. Originally, tying hard data to player performance began with the MLB in the early 2000s. Since then, using statistical analysis has been a critical part of the NBA, too—and even shaped the current three-pointer trend.
In football, player statistics remain a critical part of the scouting process. These stats can be taken from a combine or training day, which helps recruiters gauge physical traits like strength, speed, and agility. However, more complex stats are pulled from season records, such as PPP, success rate, and turnover margin.
As amateur players prepare to join the big leagues, more emphasis is placed on these cumulative stats. But with so much data involved in sports now, it’s easy to get lost amid the numbers. When it comes to the recruitment process, which stats are scouts zeroing in on? Let’s take a closer look.
NCAA Recruitment: PPP
Though every scout has their own requirements, which are tied to the team they’re representing, quality football recruits must be explosive and efficient, have play-making vision, and prevent turnovers. (This is, of course, in addition to elements like size and speed.)
One of the most important stats is PPP, which stands for equivalent points per play. This cumulates the number of yards gained during play, then adds a point value based on the importance of the play.
These stats also inform efficiency; a higher PPP means plays are handled in the best possible way, which leads to a higher success rate margin. Aside from value-based stats like PPP and success rate margins, some recruiters might comb through niche stats, such as points per trip inside 40.
This stat can help a scout gauge how well a player takes a scoring opportunity from a certain field position. In fact, field position stats are also important, as they help recruiters determine how a player performs at certain points in a game.
CFL All About Fan-Based Stats
The CFL’s relationship to statistics is much broader. Scouts for each team will spend plenty of time perusing stats in order to determine which players to target during a trade window. However, many CFL stats are also available to the public—and they’re a big part of the fan experience.
This is especially true for fantasy league enthusiasts, who will rely on stats to help them draft the best possible lineup. It’s also relevant for bettors, as statistical analysis can inform wagers. But even casual fans are becoming more familiar with hard numbers behind their favorite league due to the type of coverage offered.
Stats like passing, rushing, kick returning, and punting are regularly cited by experts who cover the CFL. Fans who enjoy following the latest developments in the league have picked up the basics of vital stats along the way.
Beyond Recruitment: Tailored Training
Clearly, football stats are most important when it comes to how teams recruit players. It’s also important to fans and analysts, as stats are how they can better understand the sport at a glance. However, football stats can also directly inform how a team trains certain players.
Since the rise of data-driven sports, many more professional teams are using stats to build out tailored training exercises for players. By looking at a player’s recent performance, expert data analysts and sports trainers can work together to design a workout with a specific outcome in mind.
This helps teams train their athletes on an as-needed basis, preventing overtraining for players. This, in turn, helps prevent added injury and exertion by helping them target the specific areas they need to improve.
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