Microsoft Power BI and Tableau are business development tools that can take sports science data analytics and visualisation to another level. This post discusses Sport Horizon courses for sports scientists seeking to development their data science skills.
One of the most common questions I get asked by sports science practitioner is 'What data analysis tool should I learn?'. There's certainly a notable surge in interest in data viz tools such as Microsoft PowerBI and Tableau among sports scientists looking to enhance their data science skills.
Microsoft Power BI in particular appears to offer a middle ground between the constraints of Microsoft Excel, which is often pushed to its limits in sports science applications, and the intricate programming languages of computer science, such as R and Python. Up until recently, sports science practitioners looking to develop their data science skills had to rely on general data science courses.
Based on their own experiences of trying to self-learn such tools, Ciaran Deeley and Johannes Marthinussen created Sport Horizon; a dedicated place for learning specifically about data modelling, cleaning, analysis and visualisation for sport. Together, we discussed the state of data analysis in sports science, and shared a demonstration of Microsoft Power BI on the Global Performance Insights YouTube channel. You can watch the video further below.
Sport Horizon offer courses tailor-made for sports professionals aiming to develop data analytics skills. A 15% discount on Sport Horizon courses is offered to Global Performance Insights viewers using the information below.
For a 15% discount enter code: JOCLUBB15
Watch the video below to learn more:
You can download the example GPS dataset used by Johannes in the video here:
FAQs on Microsoft PowerBI and Data Viz
What is Power BI?
Power BI is a business analytics service by Microsoft that provides interactive visualisations and business intelligence capabilities with an interface simple enough for end users to create their own reports and dashboards.
How is Power BI different from Excel?
While Excel is excellent for data manipulation, calculation, and small-scale data visualisation, Power BI is designed for more complex data analysis and visualisation, offering advanced features like interactive dashboards, real-time data updates, and AI-driven features.
How do I get started with Power BI?
To get started, download and install Power BI Desktop, connect to your data source (like an Excel file), and start creating your first report by selecting data fields and visualisation types. Watch the video for a step-by-step guide to getting started.
How can Sport Horizon courses benefit sports scientists and performance analysts?
These courses are tailored to the specific needs of sport science, teaching how to efficiently process and visualise data from various sources like GPS, training and performance information, and testing data to gain actionable insights and communicate effectively with coaches and players.
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