Stats-a-side

Stats-a-side, founded by Alex Joseph and Nathan Francis in 2019, was a pioneering wearable technology company that focuses on revolutionizing the small-sided football industry. The company employs cutting-edge Bluetooth technology to gather player and team statistics from small-sided football matches, providing invaluable insights for both casual players and competitive teams alike. This case study explores Stats-a-side's journey, from its inception to securing trials with major small-sided pitch provider, Powerleague.

Professional Stats for Amateur Games

Stats-a-side was founded with a clear vision: to provide comprehensive player and team statistics for small-sided football matches. The founders, Alex Joseph and Nathan Francis, both computer science graduates with a deep understanding of machine learning and data science, recognized the lack of sophisticated statistical analysis in amateur football. Their objective was to bridge this gap by offering a service that would enhance the footballing experience for players at all levels.

The Technology

The core of Stats-a-side's innovation lies in its sophisticated technology stack. Utilizing Decawave UWB tags attached to players' clothing and footballs, along with strategically placed tags on the pitch, the system tracks player movements and ball position in real-time. This data is then processed using AI algorithms to generate detailed statistics, including passes, tackles, shots, dribbles, and distance covered.

Market Analysis and Target Audience

Stats-a-side identified a significant market opportunity within the small-sided football industry. With over 22,000 people playing small-sided football weekly in the UK alone, there was a vast pool of potential customers. By targeting small-sided football sites such as Powerleague and Goals, as well as small-sided football teams across the UK, Stats-a-side aimed to capture a sizable portion of this market.

Competitive Landscape

While there were existing solutions for player tracking and statistics in professional football settings, such as ZXY and PlayerMaker, Stats-a-side differentiated itself by focusing on small-sided and amateur football. By automating the statistics gathering process and providing accessible insights to amateur players, Stats-a-side carved out a unique niche in the market.

Stats-a-side's business model centered around providing a comprehensive service that included the installation and maintenance of the technology at small-sided football sites. The company set short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives, ranging from developing a desktop and mobile app to partnering with football clubs for player recruitment using the Stats-a-side database.

Securing Trials with Powerleague

One of Stats-a-side's significant milestones was securing trials with Powerleague, a major small-sided pitch provider. This partnership provided validation for the company's innovative approach and opened doors to a broader customer base. By offering Powerleague customers access to detailed match statistics, Stats-a-side enhanced the value proposition of Powerleague's facilities, further solidifying the partnership.

Conclusion

Stats-a-side's journey from inception to securing trials with Powerleague exemplifies the power of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing unmet needs within the sports industry. By leveraging advanced technology and a deep understanding of the footballing landscape, Stats-a-side has positioned itself as a game-changer in the world of amateur football statistics, paving the way for a future where data-driven insights empower players and teams to reach new heights of performance and enjoyment on the pitch.