- Rayados has a sports analytics area that uses Big Data to improve its sports performance.
- According to Rayados’ sporting manager Carlos Vela, the club could spend more than $100,000 per year on this equipment.
- In the case of the Rayados men’s first team, Big Data is used to deliver its own analysis, training, rivals and future soccer players to its squad.
- Do you already know our Instagram account? Follow us.
The use of data and technology makes it possible to make better decisions and make processes more efficient in various industries, including football, which Rayados de Monterrey is clear about.
During a visit by Business Insider Mexico to the Rayados Training Center—known as “El Barial”—, carlos candle, The club’s sports manager explained that they have a sports analytics sector aimed at improving the sporting results of their men’s and women’s first class teams, expansion and core forces.
In the specific case of a team playing in the Liga MX and other tournaments—such as the Copa MX, the CONCACAF Champions League, the League Cup and even the FIFA Club World Cup—, this field allows for a variety of analyses: from the same The team, the players who train, the rivals they will face and even the potential footballers who join their squad.
Vela said that every year Raydos could spend more than $100,000 on these tools that serve to open dialogue and compare ideas.
However, the decision on the alignment of the parties and the changes to it rest entirely with the technical director – today Viktor Manuel Vucetich – who has “complete independence”.
Below, we explain how big data helps Rayados improve his sporting performance in the men’s first team.
Self-criticism: Raydos’s own analysis
According to Vela, Rayados is “rigorous” when it comes to studying the game performance of his first team, which is why it combines qualitative and quantitative variables.
The first are received after each game played. At that point, the technical director creates a report in which he briefly describes each soccer player’s performance and assigns a final rating (from 1 to 10).
“Over time, the sports analytics field documents that and gives us a personalized profile of that player,” Vela said, though he clarified that this is only from the perspective of the coaching staff.
This information contrasts with the data obtained from the performance of athletes. At the end of a tournament, an analysis is done and objective data regarding the vision of the coaching staff and those obtained are discussed.
“Sometimes they match, other times they don’t. It gives us very rich debates to make decisions about the team’s future and plan”, Vela said.
In its analysis of Raidos, it does not focus only on the individual performance of its players, but is also studied on a collective level and based on a game model.
According to the club’s sports manager, there are different KPIs that are tried to be achieved throughout the season and are constantly compared with the rest of the rivals.
For example, Raydos wants to be a “fast, intense, strong team with a marked physical background”. Therefore, data is obtained to elaborate an analysis of its distance and cadence on the field in comparison to other clubs.
Injured players are too expensive: training analysis

Rayados analyzes the training of his first team with the aim of improving their performance and preventing injuries.
“It has an important economic impact because a muscle injury to a player costs a lot of money,” Vella explained. “The club invests heavily in players and we want them to be on the pitch.”
To carry out this analysis, the Monterrey club has a private platform that all footballers and members of the coaching staff have access to. This allows information to be centralized and it remains in the Rayados, whether the coaching staff changes or not.
Athletes undergo seven evaluations every 30 or 40 days, depending on the tournament schedule. This makes it possible to profile each one, establish development prevention groups and categorize them according to their needs.
After getting the results of these evaluations, an interview is done with the players and they are given an action plan which they should follow to improve their performance.
According to Vela, the Rayados men’s first team has three physical trainers and one of them is responsible for making sure the players follow their action plan.
“Every time a player enters a gym, they have to stick together and the kind of work they do is recorded on the platform,” he said. “Everyone is looked after by what he has to follow.”
Every day, Raydos analyzes the training load

The club’s sports analytics area also analyzes the daily load of training, where players wear vests with sensors that collect up to 100 different variables. Rayados determines which ones are most relevant and which should be taken care of.
The data is transferred to software developed at the club, where the player’s performance that day in training is compared to his performance in the match.
“This allows us to see whether the job met its goal. At the end of each day, a multidisciplinary meeting is held in which doctors, physical trainers and representatives of the coaching staff participate to share data The most relevant thing is the conclusion they reach,” Vela said.
“Every day a minute is sent where the conclusion of the cargo is shared. We have a weekly report in which we have to reach certain loads that are planned and it is compared with the last 28 days.”
eyes on the opponent

Game analysis is not limited to Raidos’ first team performances. He goes further and focuses on the opponents he faces by studying their offensive and defensive instincts.
“We do a preliminary analysis of all this data and based on that we describe general aspects of the opponent that we share with the coaching staff. They then share it with the players,” Vela explained.
With its own analysis, the analysis of the opponent is carried out in a general way (the whole team) and individually (specific players who can be dangerous during the game).
And although Rayados usually face the same teams as in Liga MX, these are developing, as well as being a great tool in tournaments such as the CONCACAF Champions League or the Club World Cup, where they compete against clubs from other confederations in the league and around the world. play with. ,
In search of new talents for Rayados: Scouting analysis
Vela assures that the signing of footballers is where Raidos makes its most important investments. That’s why making a mistake is very costly.
“We have to reduce this margin and have to be very skillful in picking players,” he added.
The Monterrey club focuses on the search for talent according to three strategic lines:
- Featured players in League of Interest: MX League, MX Expansion, Top 10 of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, USA and Europe.
- Latinos in Europe
- Player without contract (free agent)
Rayados defines a profile based on the situation where there are certain variables that it gives a specific weighting, depending on what they are looking at at the time. Raw information is collected, then a formula is applied that helps filter the players, resulting in a perfect draw.
“We have implemented this type of methodology since 2015, which is why players who have been very relevant in MX League have appeared, such as ‘Chucky’ Lozano, Funis Mori, Dorlan Pavon, Aviles Hurtado, Gigac, Oribe Peralta,” he added. Said. Candle.
“We cut every eight days. If a player suffers an injury and misses between three or four games based on absolute values, he will no longer be in the ideal table. A player who is good and performs well has to come out.”
The same method is used in other leagues of interest to Raidos. Strategically, filtering players allows the club to know where to focus its scouting efforts.
Qualitative analysis is also done in scouting.

After completing the data analysis, a further qualitative one is made. In it, the audience must document their conclusions on each player they study on stage. The information is collected in an audio.
“The most relevant thing for us is the conclusion of the audience, which has to say whether he sees the player in the Raydos or not. Are you a candidate? Do you want to continue watching? It gives a position,” Vela said. Said.
“When a player has several mentions from different people who say they see him at the club or are constantly monitored, another phase begins in which we involve members of the coaching staff,” he added. Said.
Finally, they are filtered between three or four footballers who are candidates for transfer. The final decision is by consensus between the Technical Director and the club.
now read: Raidos challenges to prepare BBVA stadium to host 2026 World Cup
Read also: FMF and Liga MX will undergo these changes to promote Mexican soccer
Find more stories at Business Insider Mexico
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TwitterLinkedIn, Youtube and Tiktok
now go:
FAQs
How does big data help sports? ›
b) Analyzing team performance: Big data analyzes the various factors of the players that give an insight to the players to analyze their own strengths and weaknesses as well as that of the competitors thereby improving the team's performance.
How has data analytics impacted sports? ›Sports data analytics forms an integral aspect of off-field decision-making in soccer. Soccer clubs worldwide have invested heavily in data science and related technology to help boost players' on-field performance and improve off-field decision-making.
How football uses data and analytics to improve team performance? ›In conclusion, data analytics has grown in significance within the game of football recently. Clubs are utilizing statistics to gain a competitive advantage and enhance on-field performance. Clubs can use data analytics to track player performance, evaluate opponents, and reach more informed conclusions.
How is big data used in football? ›Big Data Analytics Helps Clubs To Increase Fan Engagement
For example, broadcasters and club websites can use big data football scouting tools to provide fans with information about their favorite players' performances in real-time during the game.
Starting from a wearable device to track players' health, calorie intake to decide playing strategies and mobile app to track fans' experience are few examples of big data.
What are 4 benefits of big data? ›- Customer Acquisition and Retention. ...
- Focused and Targeted Promotions. ...
- Potential Risks Identification. ...
- Innovate. ...
- Complex Supplier Networks. ...
- Cost optimization. ...
- Improve Efficiency.
The benefit of the data collected during that training plan comes in the ability to see what caused the good things and what caused the bad things at least in part. Looking back at overall averages and weekly and daily accumulation metrics allows a coach to see what worked and what didn't work.
How does performance analysis improve performance in sport? ›Performance Analysis can help enhance the coaching process by providing visual feedback (Video Analysis) and objective statistical analysis (Data analysis) E.g. Video analysis: lapse time feedback to help understand and improve tactics, technique, and movement etc.
Why is data science important in sport? ›Predictive analysis in the sports industry is primarily used to evaluate insights and provide an idea of all preparations the team needs to make on game day. Data science is used by sports websites such as ESPN, Lines, and Cricbuzz to predict the performance of players and teams in various league games.
How can big data transform football decisions in the future? ›The introduction of big data in football helps to enhance the abilities of the players and improve their performance, providing the technical staff with the opportunity to predict and make relevant decisions regarding their line-up.
How is data analytics used in the NFL? ›
The Important Role of Data Analytics in the NFL
The tracking system gathers player data on their speed, distance, acceleration, and location on the field per time. The data is collected in easily readable charts. These reports are used to determine the players' performance by set metrics.
Data and analytics are increasingly being used to help maximize fan experiences and for team owners to determine the value of players, but also to enhance player safety.
How big data is transforming football? ›Big data is playing an increasingly important role in football, with technologies capturing huge amounts of information about players' positions and actions during a match. To make sense of all this information, most elite football teams now employ data analysts plucked from top companies and laboratories.
How Data Analytics has changed football? ›With advanced analytics, teams leverage match player performance data, video footage, expected goals and assists, and data signals to understand and optimize their performance deeply. This is usually a more reliable indicator of how well a team performed than the score itself.
What does GB mean in football stats? ›In most North American sports, the phrase games behind or games back (often abbreviated GB) is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division.
What are three examples of big data? ›Big data comes from myriad sources -- some examples are transaction processing systems, customer databases, documents, emails, medical records, internet clickstream logs, mobile apps and social networks.
How is data collected in sports? ›Surveys allow sport management researchers to gain desired information about a characteristic, attitude, or behavior within a selected sample or population. Surveys are particularly useful in describing the characteristics of a large population, and they make it feasible to collect data from large samples.
How are databases used in sports? ›Databases can be used to store all different data types including continuous or categorical data. As related to sport performance, this data can include performance data from competitions or any other type of data that a coach collects during the pre-season, competitions, or post season.
What is big data and why it is important? ›Big data is a term that describes large, hard-to-manage volumes of data – both structured and unstructured – that inundate businesses on a day-to-day basis. But it's not just the type or amount of data that's important, it's what organizations do with the data that matters.
What is the most goal of big data? ›The goal of big data is to increase the speed at which products get to market, to reduce the amount of time and resources required to gain market adoption, target audiences, and to ensure customers remain satisfied.
What are the 3 important Vs of big data? ›
Dubbed the three Vs; volume, velocity, and variety, these are key to understanding how we can measure big data and just how very different 'big data' is to old fashioned data.
What are methods to measure improvement in sport? ›They include: Vertical Jump, Pro-Agility Run, 10 yard dash, Broad Jump, Medicine Ball Throw, and 3 Cone Drill. These basic performance tests can be completed by any student-athlete, regardless of fitness level. When an athlete's strength increases, their test scores improve.
What are the pros and cons of big data collection? ›If a company uses big data to its advantage, it can be a major boon for them and help them outperform its competitors. Advantages include improved decision making, reduced costs, increased productivity and enhanced customer service. Disadvantages include cybersecurity risks, talent gaps and compliance complications.
Why is qualitative data important in sport? ›Abstract: Qualitative research has its own particular strengths and therefore is able to grasp the multidimensionality of meanings, contexts, unanticipated phenomena, processes and explanations which can be found in the world of sport, games and physical activity.
How does sport improve effectiveness? ›Enhanced learning
Physical activity has been shown to stimulate brain development and is likely to improve academic performance. The impact of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and/or aerobic fitness in increasing cerebral blood flow and neuroplasticity may underpin these associations.
An objective performance measure is a method of evaluating how well an individual, team or organization accomplishes tasks or goals. It's also known as key performance indicators (KPIs).
What is the biggest factor affecting sports performance? ›- Sleep.
- Stress.
- Nutrition.
- Health & Energy.
- Motivation.
- Relaxation.
- Sportscode by Hudl. Sportscode is widely used across the industry. ...
- Dartfish. ...
- Nacsport. ...
- Opta by Perform Group. ...
- StatsBomb.
- Quintic. ...
- Coach Paint. ...
- KlipDraw.
One of the most popular tools in athletic training is the GPS tracking device. By measuring speed, distance, and heart rate, these devices can give trainers a clear picture of an athlete's level of exertion during a workout or practice. This can be used to tailor workouts and prevent overtraining.
How can you use big data to improve decision making? ›- Assess Product Fit.
- Measure to Manage Better.
- Craft the Right Story.
- Identify Patterns.
- Find New Opportunities.
- Collect Customer Feedback.
- See the Bigger Picture.
How will big data help create a competitive advantage? ›
Data can help you understand what and when customers are purchasing, as well as what customers with a similar profile or buying habits are purchasing. This insight can help you predict what other products or services provided by your company may best fit their needs.
How does more data improve decision making? ›Data based decision making provides businesses with the capabilities to generate real time insights and predictions to optimize their performance. Through this, they can test the success of different strategies and make informed business decisions for sustainable growth.
How does basketball use data and analytics to improve team performance? ›Leveraging data to improve performance
Using predictive analytics, teams can analyze historical playing data – either in the NBA or even in college and high school – to understand the potential of a certain player, as well as identifying playing traits that may or may not suit the team's style.
Thanks to the vast amount of data collected during games, statisticians can apply sophisticated analyses to assess a player and identify fac- tors that contribute to his success. Teams use this “Moneyball” method to uncover overlooked young talent, as well as play- ers in the major leagues undervalued by their teams.
In what ways can data visualization help sports teams? ›For those involved in the game, analytics allows for a more objective, deeper understanding of what can otherwise be chaotic competition. For the fans, it can reveal things they might otherwise have missed and ultimately facilitate a deeper understanding of the sports they love.
Which tool can be used to analyze sports data in real time? ›Hevo provides you with a truly efficient and fully-automated solution to manage data in real-time and always have analysis-ready data.
How has technology improved football performance? ›Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS):
Players' and teams' performance is managed and enhanced through Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS), which utilize camera-based and wearable technology in football.
Improves Communication
This can help boost communication between coaches and athletes. Coaches can also utilise sports videos to highlight particular actions in an athlete's performance and use them as a guide to enhance training. Additionally, athletes can also view their own footage and performance.
Data analytics help to improve business management by helping leaders assess the effectiveness of current workflows, analyze the outcomes of the processes, automate new workflows, and refine them over time. Data also allows leaders to determine if processes are burdensome, draining the budget, or challenging to use.
How does data analytics make an impact? ›Data analytics is important because it helps businesses optimize their performances. Implementing it into the business model means companies can help reduce costs by identifying more efficient ways of doing business and by storing large amounts of data.
What are the benefits of analytics in football? ›
For players and clubs, the advantages of acquiring data analytics are simple at their core: Data can help clubs get an edge over rivals, improve their scouting and squad management, manage overloads and prevent injuries.
How does GB work in basketball? ›GB is an abbreviation commonly used in North American sports with the NBA and NCAA college basketball. The acronym stands for games back or games behind. The value indicates how many games each team trails their first-place rival.
How does GB work in baseball? ›Ground-ball rate represents the percentage of balls hit into the field of play that are characterized as ground balls. Each ball that is hit into the field of play is characterized as a line drive, a fly ball, a ground ball or a pop-up. Ground-ball rate can be used as a metric to evaluate both hitters and pitchers.
What does big mean in NFL stats? ›Stat Abbreviations | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | Definition |
Att | Attempts |
Avg | Average |
Big | Big Plays |
Not only can data analytics help teams win games, these statistics can also help improve player performance, prevent injuries and encourage fans to attend games.
Why is data science important in sports? ›Predictive analysis in the sports industry is primarily used to evaluate insights and provide an idea of all preparations the team needs to make on game day. Data science is used by sports websites such as ESPN, Lines, and Cricbuzz to predict the performance of players and teams in various league games.
Why do you think statistics and data are important for sports? ›Statistics also plays a key role in ensur- ing the integrity of sports ranging from baseball and basketball to cycling and sumo wrestling. Sporting events can be tainted by many factors, such as tank- ing, discrimination, doping, and judging bias. Demonstrating such breaches can be extremely challenging, however.
Why do we need database for game development? ›Databases play a vital role in game design and development. They store player data, game states, information on performance, and maintain the environments that developer teams have put so much effort into. Without a good database, games can't function properly.
How machine learning is used in sports? ›With machine learning and AI in sports applications, organizations can use their data to improve every area of their operations. From player recruitment and performance to ticket sales, predictive analytics can help make targeted decisions and strategic changes that impact every area of a sports organization.
What types of statistics are used with sports? ›In fact, sports provide numerous examples for illustrating statistics with pie charts, scatter plots, Pareto charts, bubble charts, surface plots and box plots.