The FAI has launched the country’s first national football analytics competition, bringing together emerging analytical talent with an international network of sporting organisations, clubs, and technology businesses.
Delivered in conjunction with Technological University Dublin, the FAI Datathon will take place on October 29th and 30th, challenging teams to tackle a real football performance problem using real football data.
The initiative offers a practical connection between university research, sports technology and the performance needs of governing bodies and clubs. The opportunity extends beyond the competition itself, with winning teams potentially continuing their work with support from the FAI.
The event follows a similar one hosted by TUD as part of the NFL Game in Dublin last year.
The opportunity is open to performance analysts, undergraduate, master’s and PhD researchers, data scientists, machine learning engineers and sports technology professionals. No coding experience is required, widening the invitation to those who can contribute football knowledge, interpretation and ideas alongside technical expertise.
The challenge will be revealed at 10:00 on Thursday, October 29th. Teams will then work at their own pace, with mentors available online to provide guidance.
The second day will take place in person at TU Dublin’s Grangegorman campus, focusing on team mentoring, presentation development and delivery of a detailed final solution.
A substantial international mentor network is being assembled, with involvement from the FAI, Irish Football Association, US Soccer Federation and Dutch Football Association, as well as the IRFU and England’s Rugby Football Union.
Club expertise will include Atlético Madrid, Brentford, Arsenal, Como 1907, Chicago Fire, São Paulo, Hamburger SV and BK Häcken, alongside Atlético Mineiro and Athletico Paranaense.
Irish sports technology businesses Kitman Labs, STATSports and Orreco will also provide mentorship, together with Irish and UK universities and the International Football Institute in Munich.
The breadth of that network gives participants an opportunity to test their thinking against the demands of professional sport and build contacts across a sector where research, technology and sporting expertise increasingly overlap.
“The importance of performance support in football is as great as it’s ever been. And data plays a significant role in it,” said FAI Head of Performance Support Jason Cowman.
“But it is vital that we collect the right data and use it in the correct way to maximise performance for our individual players and our teams. This opportunity will help uncover which of all the contested moments in competitive matches make a real difference to performance outputs.”
Cowman said the challenge would offer participants the opportunity to network with industry professionals, showcase their talents and potentially bring their solution into the real world of football analytics following the event.
Entry is free, with teams comprising three to five people. Individual applicants will be placed into a team, with places confirmed on Wednesday, October 28th.
Winning teams will receive prizes and an opportunity to continue working on the project with the support of the FAI team.
Applications close at 12:00 on Monday, October 26th.
Sport for Business Perspective
This initiative’s value lies in bringing a real sporting challenge to people who may have the skills to solve it but limited access to the football industry.
The involvement of Kitman Labs, STATSports, and Orreco, alongside major international clubs, gives participants an opportunity to see how analytical ideas translate into tools and decisions coaches and players can use.
This is a great chance to get involved in something that can change the life path of whoever shows their mettle in coming up with the best ideas.
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Image Credit: FAI and TUD
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