Harnessing the Extraordinary Power of Statistics in Sports

• Activity Number: 338
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Sports
• Author(s): Ben Baumer* and Dennis Lock* and Brian Macdonald*
• Companies: Smith College and Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers
• Keywords: sports ; decision-making ; NBA ; NHL ; MLB ; NFL

Abstract

Statistics is playing a powerful role in the evolution of many professional sports. With one expert from each of the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB, our panel will discuss how statistics can and should be used to impact decision-making, with respect to both in-game strategy and in building a team. Further, we will provide a glance at what it's like to work for a professional sports team - the skills that are needed, what the lifestyle is like, and how statistics is fundamental to such roles.