Real-time basketball stat-tracking startup ShotTracker and motion detection video production company Keemotion have teamed up to provide fans, players and coaches of the less-hyped, less-funded and less-known NAIA Division I Men’s Championship, access to a ton of real-time player statistics and live game coverage throughout the tournament.
For the first time via unmanned technology, ShotTracker and Keemotion are currently providing player stats, analytics at the 32-team six-day NAIA tournament, which began Wednesday.
Overland Park, Kan.-based ShotTracker’s TEAM technology tracks ball and player movement in real-time via three different sets of trackers. ShotTracker sensors are mounted to shoes as well as stuffed inside Spalding ShotTracker basketballs. The final sensor is embedded in either the ceiling or rafters above the basketball court. The three-part tracking system allows coaches and players to view complete practice or game stats in real-time.
“You’ll be asked to wear a small sensor on your shoe, but the rest will be completely invisible to you,” former NBA commissioner and ShotTracker investor David Stern said of players in the NAIA tournament. “It’s like magic.”
NAIA fans will be able to access ShotTracker’s real-time advanced player statics throughout the tournament. Fans will be able to track fun and valuable player and team statistics like shot charts, possession stats and optimal lineups via the ShotTracker app.
Keemotion’s automated video production platform and motion-tracking camera system will film and help produce 31 live games throughout the tournament. The strategically mounted unmanned camera system will film live games in 1080p HD from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. FOX Sports GO will then live stream all of the games with no cable provider login information needed.
NAIA’s partnership with ShotTracker and Keemotion began at last year’s Dodgers Accelerator.
“This is a major milestone for sports technology, and we’re excited for our members and fans to be part of yet another first at the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament,” NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr said in a statement.
“The real-time analytics provided by ShotTracker TEAM are invaluable to coaches, players and fans, and our audience is broadened with the addition of live-streamed footage from Keemotion’s automated system.”
ShotTracker TEAM tracks everything from simple box scores, normally kept by hand, to more complex analytics like player efficiency ratings. Kansas, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Michigan State, TCU and Washington State all have used ShotTracker.
Keemotion helps its team, league and broadcast partners produce customized live streamed games. The company’s production software embeds vital information like the score, shot clock and even advertising. Then the video stream is sent via Amazon Cloud technology a partner’s website where play-by-play and other stats can be added in real-time.
Keemotion enables teams, coaches and leagues to cut together game highlights that can be easily disseminated via social media. Referees can also use the video streams to watch live instant replays during a game.
Keemotion, which focuses primarily on basketball and volleyball, operates in over 100 professional arenas in 10 countries. Keemotion clients include the Golden State Warriors, the University of Illinois at Chicago and four European professional leagues.
NAIA Championship Tournament – Rehearsal Scrimmage with Rockhurst University from ShotTracker on Vimeo.
