Applying Computer Vision in Sports

4 Key Benefits of Computer Vision in Sports

Computer vision plays a crucial role in every aspect of sports, from the viewing experience to training and how referees make decisions. This article will cover the benefits of using computer vision in sports and surface some fascinating use cases.

4 Key Benefits of Computer Vision in Sports

1. Improving the Viewer Experience
   Computer vision can enhance the fan experience. Cameras can now focus on the action instead of offering a panoramic view of the whole pitch. Additionally, clubs can monitor fan emotions and analyze their engagement to improve the fan experience.

2. Enhancing Training Sessions
   To improve, athletes need to learn from their mistakes. Computer vision can analyze player performance and identify weaknesses in their technique. Based on this, athletes and teams can work to eliminate bad habits.

3. Checking Referee Decisions
   Computer vision can be used to review referee decisions, such as offside, out, goals, and photo finishes. This ensures that every decision is correct.

4. Keeping Athletes Safe
   Computer vision can help prevent accidents or save lives. Algorithms can analyze large data sets, including player position, game type, equipment used, playing surface, and environmental factors, and help improve injury treatment and rehabilitation.

6 Real-Life Examples of Using Computer Vision in Sports

1. Mapping Athlete Positions
   Computer vision can identify athletes based on attributes such as their shirt number. This can help organizers update spectators about the results.

2. Real-Time Player Tracking
   Computer vision and machine learning algorithms can track player and team performance in real-time by attaching each player to a unique ground point.

3. Ball Tracking
   Computer vision can track the ball’s spin and direction, helping athletes understand how their stance affects their ball striking. It can also support umpire calls.

4. Opposition Analysis
   Computer vision can help coaches analyze their opponents, giving them a competitive edge.

5. Action Recognition
   Action recognition in computer vision is a fundamental problem in sports video analysis. It helps coaches evaluate player performance and broadcasters track the action.

6. Drowning-Risk Prevention
   Computer vision can detect struggling swimmers and raise the alarm, preventing drowning.

Could Computer Vision Help You?

As you can see, there are many ways to use computer vision applications in sports. But you need to know how to deploy them to get the best results. With that in mind, you may want to work with experienced AI professionals when creating a solution for your business.