SciSports: Delivering a comprehensive data solution for football operations

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Images credit: SciSports

Best popularised by Football Manager, football fans around the world are becoming increasingly aware of data-driven software and analysis. In truth, these worlds have been colliding for some time as the football industry continues to be at the forefront of innovation.

Leading the way in this area is Dutch-based company SciSports, which has risen to prominence in Europe for its diverse range of data-driven software services.

The company delivers key football operations services, including recruitment, performance and opponent analysis, career advice, and data delivery. These services are utilised by national teams, clubs, players and player agencies, and league associations.

Its leading partnerships are with the Dutch Eredivisie and Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), as well as Premier League club Crystal Palace, and A-League side Adelaide United.

In addition, its applications are used by a host of British and European football clubs, winning many plaudits from performance analysts and football recruitment departments.

This article will take you on a deep-dive into the range of applications SciSports offers, and how it is changing the face of football operations.

Recruitment

Arguably its most prized feature, SciSports provides its clients the very best data-driven player recruitment software money can buy.

Its application connects club scouts and player agencies to over 270,000 players in the men’s and women’s game, 3,700 clubs, and 250 league divisions.

Part of the software allows clubs to create their own profile that details their style of play. This helps clubs save valuable time in their recruitment process because players who suit the club’s profile will be prioritised within its search engine.

Player profiles built within the application include features such as the SciSkill Index – an in-house player performance metric – performance statistics, and player roles.

WIthin its Pro recruitment application, player profiles include AI powered player valuations, and a GBE points calculator that determines the eligibility of a player for work permit or visa applications.

SciSports offers a monthly subscription package for its two recruitment application offerings (Essential and Pro), benefitting clubs at all levels of the professional game.  

Altogether, SciSports’ in-depth, data-driven technology is making football recruitment simpler and more efficient, helping football clubs steer clear of the “flop” branding that permeates through modern football.

Career Advice

Connected to its recruitment and performance analysis services, SciSports can assist players and player agencies greatly.

Their career advice service enables agencies’ to create player-profiles for their clients, driven by SciSports existing performance analysis software.

The profile contains in-depth information ranging from physical attributes and tactical suitability, to career history and player ambitions.

Again, the application is offered in two monthly subscription packages – Lite and Pro – which have differing levels of access for players and agents.

Whilst the services helps a player market themselves, it also better informs them about where their next move should be, which SciSports evidences through its high-profile player partnerships.

Case Study – Memphis Depay

SciSports’ highest-profile success story is current Atletico Madrid and Netherlands forward, Memphis Depay.

After struggling at Manchester United, Depay and his agent sought the help of SciSports to assist in revitalising his career.

His player profile and subsequent analysis advised him to reject moves to Spain, Italy, and England, in favour of a move to French Ligue 1 club, Olympique Lyon, who were seen as best-suited to his playing style.

Depay revitalised his career, going on to score 63 goals in 139 appearances for OL, before representing his country at the 2021 European Championships and 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Fellow Dutch forward Wout Weghorst is known to have succeeded using SciSports career advice and performance analysis applications, whilst several Dutch Eredivisie players have been known to further their careers.

Performance Analysis

Having the ability to analyse player and team performance day-by-day is imperative in elite football. SciSports aims to assist elite football clubs in offering extensive performance analysis applications.

Its performance analysis software is data provider agnostic, meaning it can be connected to existing data sources such as player-tracking data (GPS systems), event data, and video footage.

The result is a one-stop-shop software for performance analysts and coaches to use with their players and teams.

The package produces greater staff reporting, video analysis, and data visualisations, all of which are vital to being a successful football operation.

Given the diverse nature of football tactics and analysis, pricing for its service is available for request only.

Opponent Analysis

Similar to its performance analysis services, SciSports also provides opponent analysis for football clubs.

In today’s football climate, getting the edge over a rival takes place not just on the pitch, but in offices over weeks and months. One small piece of analysis could be the difference between failure and success.

SciSports again uses incredible detail to provide clubs with analysis that evolves simple stats into some of the most niche around. For instance, attacking and defensive style trends, or the types of set-piece variations an opponent runs, their success rate, and times in games that they run them.

Data-driven opponent analysis is already a prominent feature in professional football, but SciSports existing services in recruitment and performance analysis situates them as an industry leader.

Data Delivery

Last, but not least in its catalogue of services, SciSports can integrate its software with existing in-house technology, making the transition easy for football clubs and player agencies to align with the company.

Like its performance analysis service, pricing for its in-house data-delivery solutions are available for request only.

SciSports are expanding its operation to leagues in North and Central America, and whether it penetrates the Asian or Australian market or not, its services are a valuable template for improving football operations.

With some of the world’s leading universities based in Australia, there is a clear capacity for the creation of data-driven software that can drive the professionalisation and expansion of the Australian game.

For full information on SciSports, you can find it here.

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Elite Skills Arena’s Smart Training Tools for Every Level of the Game

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Image Credit: Elite Skills Arena

Elite Skills Arena is a designer and manufacturer of football products, invented to enhance the productivity and efficiency of footballers at all levels.

The company was founded in 2014 by ex-football chairman Eddie Mitchell, famous for owning AFC Bournemouth FC and taking them from the bottom of League Two to Premier League contention.

Elite Skills Arena have sold their technology and products to major league clubs across Europe, including FC Barcelona, Manchester City FC, Southampton FC, and many others, accounting for over 60 clubs and national teams.

Recently, the company signed a tech partnership with the Rangers FC, supplying them with the latest ICONs and Circuit products to be used in the club’s youth programmes and first team.

The company’s mission is to empower coaches by giving clubs the equipment to identify talent, rehabilitate players faster and prevent risk of reinjury, and other technical development while keeping the enjoyment of the game alive.

The ICON

Their flagship product, the ICON, is a dodecagon (12-sided) ‘arena’ with sensors on each panel to analyse the player’s movement, touch, awareness of their surroundings, and passing ability.

The ICON was first mocked up in 2014, later released on the market in 2016, and got the attention of football clubs for its ability to individually analyse and identify each player’s strengths and weaknesses using data. The training product has been used by professional footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suárez, and David Beckham.

The equipment is designed to mimic match-realistic movements for players to fine-tune their skills and abilities on the field and off of the field for footballers who are rehabilitating after injury.

The ICON can also benefit youth development in the sport, allowing coaches to test the skill level of their young players, give appropriate and useful feedback on their game, and give each training session with the ICON a chance for players to express what they’ve learnt.

The ICON comes in several types: the most popular 2.5 m diameter arena Fast Foot, the range of versions each with their own specific features, the ICON Q (known as the ICON Wall) used for academy training, and the ICON CUBE, which is marketed to “force the player away from the centre”.

Elite Skills Arena also provides professionally designed programmes for the ICON to help players target much-needed skills to focus on, as well as develop their physical and mental capabilities while on the field.

The Wireless Circuit

Among other products, Elite Skills has released a range of safe and controlled wireless training products designed to help a football player rehabilitate from injuries without the risk of further pain.

The product, called the Wireless Circuit, covers individual obstacles, training drills, and scoring and sensor equipment to monitor the level of efficiency of the player’s fitness.

Separated into four different modules as well as custom drills, the Circuit is used to relay real-time feedback to coaches on what their players are doing right and wrong, including their physical health, to gain an insight into enhancing performance.

Each module is set up to work on specific attributes and skills footballers need to improve on, including passing accuracy, movement of the ball, and shooting opportunities.

Outside of training, the ICON and other ESA products can also be used for entertainment purposes. At the event, ICONs are rented to allow brands and patrons to show off their football skills. Brands like Tag Heuer, Adidas and Disney have used Elite Skills Arena products at promotional events.

One of these products is the Precision Wall, one of the latest products Elite Skills Arena has made, designed to develop shooting accuracy for players. Similar to the ICON, the player is put in front of a wall of panels and sensors and has to hit the targets when lit up, simulating the pressure of real-time situations.

How Xtract One Is Reinventing Venue Security with AI

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Image Credit : Xtract One

When fans pour through stadium gates or concert turnstiles, safety should feel effortless, it should just be a part of the experience, not an obstacle. Yet for decades, long queues, bag checks, and metal detectors have become a negative expectation in the entry process. 

Now, a Canadian company is rewriting that narrative. Xtract One, a leader in AI-driven threat detection, is transforming how venues protect guests, staff, and assets, all without slowing down the flow to the entrance. Its technology replaces traditional screening with intelligent, non-invasive systems that quietly identify potential threats while allowing thousands of people to enter freely and safely.

The company’s approach represents a broader shift in venue design, one where the emphasis is not only on safety but also on experience. For most large-scale events, traditional walk-through metal detectors and manual bag checks remain the standard. 

While effective in principle, these systems come with major drawbacks: they’re slow, intrusive, and labour-intensive. Queues stretch, tempers flare, and staff must constantly juggle responsibilities with hospitality.

Beyond inconvenience, these methods often generate inconsistent results. Human error such as fatigue, distraction, or simple oversight can compromise security effectiveness. As well as traditional systems detect metal rather than weapons, they trigger frequent false alarms, forcing staff to conduct additional searches that delay entry even more.

In an industry increasingly focused on fan experience and efficiency, these limitations are a major setback. Venue operators are looking for ways to protect guests without sacrificing the atmosphere they’ve worked hard to create.

That’s where Xtract One steps in. Using a combination of AI, sensor fusion, and machine learning, the company’s platform including SmartGateway and Xtract One View replaces reactive detection with intelligent analysis. 

Instead of sounding alarms for every metallic object, it interprets data in real time to differentiate between harmless personal items and true security threats like firearms or knives.

Through Xtract One View, operators can oversee multiple entry points, or even multiple venues all from a single platform. Data analytics track traffic flow, identify bottlenecks, and measure system performance, turning what was once a slow and tedious process into a source of operational insight.

The benefits are already being realised in high-profile venues across North America.

At the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, Xtract One’s system has helped streamline guest entry for concerts, basketball games, and university events. 

The arena reports shorter wait times, reduced staffing requirements, and a more relaxed atmosphere at the gates, making the product a win for both security teams and fans.

At Kia Georgia, the company’s screening solutions have been integrated into the automaker’s manufacturing facility, proving their versatility beyond entertainment venues. 

The technology’s adaptability to outdoor conditions and architectural design means it can blend seamlessly with different environments, from industrial campuses to stadium forecourts.

These implementations underscore the same principle that security doesn’t need to be visible to be effective. By combining intelligence with efficiency, Xtract One delivers peace of mind without performance trade-offs.

The global demand for smarter, safer, and faster security has never been greater. Stadiums, concert halls, convention centres, and even schools are facing mounting pressure to manage large crowds without creating stress or congestion. In Australia, a nation renowned for its sports and live events, the potential is particularly significant.

Major hubs like Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane continue to host world-class tournaments, concerts, and cultural festivals. Venues in these cities are increasingly focused on improving fan experience from the moment of arrival. 

As such, the adoption of AI-enhanced screening could become a key differentiator, helping local facilities align with international best practice while maintaining the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere Australian fans expect.

Furthermore, with sustainability and operational efficiency high on the agenda, AI-based systems offer long-term cost savings. By reducing the manpower needed for manual checks and cutting false-positive interruptions, Xtract One’s platform supports both financial and environmental goals, fewer lines, less energy consumption, and better use of human resources.

What makes Xtract One stand out isn’t just its technology, it’s the philosophy behind it. The company envisions a world where security enhances, rather than hinders, public experience.

Their tagline, “Security that feels invisible,” reflects a deeper commitment to human-centred design.

As venue operators look to the future, the shift toward AI-driven protection will likely define the next decade of infrastructure investment. The move reflects earlier transformations in lighting, turf management, and digital ticketing, each a step toward smarter, more connected venues.

Xtract One’s momentum signals a broader industry evolution. As crowd sizes increase and expectations for safety rise, the ability to combine precision, privacy, and performance will separate world-class venues from the rest.

Conclusion

Whilst Melbourne Victory and the APL have thrown ideas and concepts around improving safety at the gates of matches in the A-League, it has yet to be implemented on a full scale despite the government hiring hundreds of officers to patrol the matches at night fixtures.

Xtract One is a new and proven technology that could be outsourced across all the major footballing venues in the country, making security seamless and more effective for larger crowds. One to keep an eye on for the future of sporting events across Australia, even beyond football. 

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