Adolescent Sports Already Hold High Levels of Competitiveness; Now, Advanced AI Technologies Amplify the Rivalry
Ashley Brown used to watch her daughter's club volleyball games through her phone, constantly worried about missing something crucial for college recruiters. But this season, her daughter's team invested in Balltime, an AI service that records games, tracks players, and produces stats and highlight reels. This technology allows coaches to focus on coaching and parents to relax, knowing their child's progress is being logged.
The rise of AI in sports isn't just changing how coaches and parents interact with youth sports; it's also creating a new world of data analysis that was previously limited to professional and elite college programs. Companies like Balltime and Darkhorse AI use machine learning algorithms to track players, measure ball contact, and analyze performance data, providing coaches with valuable insights into their teams and athletes.
Balltime for all players aged 12 to 18. A single phone or tablet placed behind the court’s endline records a game and uploads it to the company’s platform, which uses body and object recognition algorithms to track each player so that their every ball contact and movement on the court can be cataloged and datafied.
While these tools can be invaluable for improvement and recruitment, they also introduce new challenges. For instance, coaches like Ben Bahr, a former college coach and data analyst, worry about the unhealthy competition among young athletes prompted by these analytics. He says, "With the rise of AI and sharing of data, the thing that’s come out of this the most is that it’s become much easier to compare yourself with what someone else is doing."
Darkhorse AI, which provides a similar player-tracking service for soccer, are allowing them to make more data-driven decisions about rosters and playing time.
The sports technology industry is capitalizing on this growing market. According to a report, the youth sports market had a global value of $37.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $69.4 billion by 2030. Private equity firms are investing heavily in sports facilities and youth-targeted services, turning youth sports into a lucrative industry.
Balltime's CEO, Dan Banon, notes that they started with adults but found the most significant growth potential in youth sports. The company's monthly subscription services, while pricey compared to some recreational budgets, fit comfortably within the average annual sports budget, which is $883 per child according to a parent survey. Elite clubs are constantly looking for ways to use data to gain an edge on competitors, sometimes investing in additional technology subscriptions.
report frequently cited by sports technology investors estimates that the youth sports market had a global value of $37.5 billion in 2022 that will grow to $69.4 billion by 2030, rivaling some of the world’s most popular professional leagues.
While supporting the potential benefits of AI analytics in youth sports, some experts also raise concerns. Karin Pfeiffer, director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, notes that it's essential to determine what data is genuinely relevant and useful for athletes and coaches. Coaches and professionals alike are bombarded with tech offers, and Pfeiffer warns against jumping on every trend blindly.
hundreds of millions of dollars to buy youth sports complexes and teenagers are now competing not just for spots on college rosters but also for life-changing money from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, thanks to a 2021
The case for AI in sports, however, isn't all about metrics and analytics. At its core, it's about promoting competition, fostering skill development, and offering a more comprehensive picture of athletes' performance. The real challenge lies in balancing the incredible potential of these tools with the need to ensure they're used responsibly and ethically, without causing undue stress or pressure on young athletes.
Supreme Court case that opened the door to private sponsorships for college athletes.
- Ashley Brown was relieved this season as her daughter's volleyball team invested in tech like Balltime, utilizing artificial-intelligence to record games and track players' stats.
- The future of sports technology is promising, with companies like Darkhorse AI providing player-tracking services for soccer, allowing for more data-driven decisions.
- To capture every move on the court, Balltime uses mobile_pos10 and clipboard, along with sensors, to record games and upload them to their platform for analysis.
- The rise of AI in sports has led to an increase in investment in the youth sports market, with private equity firms pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into facilities and services, creating a lucrative industry.
