University of Notre Dame
Athlete Data Collection & Use Research Project
We are excited to partner with the University of Notre Dame ESTEEM Graduate Program on a research project to learn about current practices and future needs of athletes, sports organizations, and their partners who collect, use, and monetize athlete data.
Project Description
In this research project, athletes and sports organizations are interviewed or complete a questionnaire about their current data collection and use practices, their pain points and needs, and how they want to collect and use athlete data in the future. Participants will receive a report on the research results to understand the current state of the space and prepare for the future.
Using Athlete Data Has Benefits and Challenges
Athlete data is collected from athletes to improve athlete and team performance. In the future this data may be used to generate revenue. Athlete data goes beyond traditional statistics to include highly regulated personal information like health, biometric, biomechanical, tracking, performance, and other data. This data is collected at all levels of sport in many ways, including through wearable sensor technology, and is subject to laws governing its collection and use. Current athlete data collection and use to help athletes and teams improve performance continues to provide value. This is expected to continue and grow in the future. Additionally, this athlete data may be a viable data commodity that can generate revenue for athletes, teams, and other sports organizations. Using personal data pertaining to a specific individual to generate revenue is a relatively new concept that raises legal, ethical, reputational, and other challenges. Regardless of how athlete data is used, there are challenges to address: •Trust •Privacy •Security •Access •Intellectual Property •Compliance To prepare for and overcome these challenges, we seek to understand the current state of athlete data collection and use to inform business, ethical, and other decisions going forward, especially where this data may be used to value athlete compensation, drive business and intellectual property licensing opportunities, and increase revenue and profits in amateur, college, and professional sports.
We Are Here to Learn: Project Details
A Notre Dame graduate student will interview you to: - assess where your organization is at in the athlete data collection, use and protection/compensation process based on what is coming - identify challenges your organization sees internally and externally that need to be addressed - identify ways that your organization meets the needs of athletes and other stakeholders in the collection and use of athlete data - create steps to be ready for new athlete data revenue streams This will help inform your decisions in what you do to serve your stakeholders and athletes and to participate in the athlete data market of the future where this data is used for new purposes requiring data compliance and transactions (e.g., revenue share). A report will be generated after interviews are complete and we plan to circulate this to our participants so they can: - understand the state of this space and how sports organizations are managing and leveraging athlete data - see the issues from athlete perspectives - consider the approach of sports organizations in the future - envision and prepare for emerging opportunities for everyone Interviews and questionnaires are short, but comprehensive and the report is provided at no cost to you.
First Movers Have the Advantage
Knowing how to contribute to and prepare for the new model - particularly when it comes to protecting and using athlete data and compensating athletes - is key. The information you provide can help you assess your readiness for the next generation sports business model and the next phase of athlete data collection and use. It will also be combined with all interviewees' information to determine how to best offer next-gen athlete data protection and monetization solutions to athletes and sports organizations. The interview and research findings can help you: •Consider your current and future athlete data collection and use practices and those of whom you partner with to balance the needs of athletes and your organization •Think about how to leverage athlete data to help solve problems in the new college sports model - including compensation of athletes and optimizing NIL – and in professional sports to address gaps in managing athlete data and take advantage of opportunities to monetize athlete data •Identify win-win solutions that allow universities to continue attracting and developing elite athletes and improving programs while leveraging athlete data for revenue in a way that protects and compensates athletes for the use of their data •Implement strategies to identify, vet, and execute on initiatives to invest in and partner with the right people to grow multiple athlete data revenue streams
Join Us
Please contact us for more information or to schedule an interview Share and invite others to participate to increase the benefits for all