sports grind

A new camera system is about to take the guesswork out of baseball statistics. Evaluating fielding is the hardest math in baseball due to the number of unknowns. How much ground was covered? How fast was the ball moving? What were the odds for or against him catching the ball? These and many other unknown variables are in effect during any given play.

Sportvision is installing a new player-tracking camera system into ballparks during this off season, which is expected to be able to produce accurate defensive statistics.

The Field FX camera system records the action while object-recognition software identifies each fielder and runner, as well as the ball. After the play, data is available for every movement, including the trajectory of the ball, how far the player ran, etc.

“After an amazing catch by an outfielder, we can compare his speed and route to the ball with our database and show the TV audience that this player performed so well that 80 percent of the league couldn’t have made that catch,” claims Ryan Zander, Sportvision’s manager of baseball products.

In fact, the technology may even influence how teams scout players, and award contracts. Wharton School statistician Shane Jensen, who writes models for fielding stats, enthused, “We can pick out systematically who’s good and bad, but there’s still guesswork with our models. We’ll certainly be able to settle who’s the best shortstop.”

Source: PopSci

According to JP Pineau, communications planner, running, universities and tennis at adidas.com/micoach, Adidas miCoach provides real-time audio feedback. “The device will talk to you as you’re running. It tells you to speed up or slow down based on your heart rate. Afterwards you can go back to analyze that information. Athletes can then review their progress. Last fall, Adidas president Steve Ralph spoke about the product at AToMiC, MiC’s new annual forum of advertising, technology, media and creativity, implying that it is one way the brand is using the digital realm to become a more personal brand.

Jabulani is a Zulu word. It means to celebrate. Jabulani was engineered by Adidas to be the roundest and most accurate ball ever played. Players want a ball that feels good on their feet and will fly predicable no matter where it is struck. It has just eight EVA and TPU panels, providing a striking surface that is 70% larger. While Jabulani’s predecessor was a good ball for strikers, goal keeps complained that its aerodynamics created a lack of rotation while in flight, making its path erratic at times [similar to a knuckle ball in baseball].

Image: Adidas

Long indentations along the panels [Adidas calls them aero grooves] divide the ball into panels and by molding the grooves Adidas was able to make a ball that achieves consistent location and shape for optimal flight. The surface of the ball has raised nubbins for a more tactile experience on the foot.

Video: Watch a video of the official 2010 World Cup soccer ball named Jabulani. Manufactured by Adidas, the ball will be used in World Cup 2010 in South Africa. The newly developed GripnGroove ball technology provides an exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions. With only eight, thermally bonded 3-D panels, which are spherically molded for the first time, the ball is perfectly round and more accurate than ever before.

After testing with a robotic kicker, in wind tunnels, and many other static testing methods, Jabulani was certified and FIFA Approved:

Circumference: FIFA Standard: 68.5-69.5cm, Jabulani: 69.0 +/- 0.2.

Roundness: Diameter is measured in 16 different locations. FIFA Standard: max 1.5% difference, Jabulani: max 1.0% difference.

Water Absorption: A ball is pressed and rotated in water 250 times: FIFA Standard: max 10% weight increase. Jabulani: 0% weight increase.

Weight: FIFA standard: 420-445 grams, Jabulani: 440 +/- 0.2 grams.

Uniform Rebound: The only dynamic FIFA test, the ball is dropped ten times onto a steel plate from a two meter height. The difference from the lowest to the highest bounce can be no more than 10 cm. Jabulani bounced in a range from 143 to 149 cm.

Loss of Pressure: Air pressure measured three days after inflation. FIFA Standard: 20% max loss, Jabulani: 10% max loss.

More info at Adidas US

FIFA 2010 South Africa Unveiling JABULANI Football

Lilou [Ali Ramdani] and Cloud [Daniel Campos] battle each other to determine who will be “The One” in the final round of Red Bull BC One 2009.