Japan Professional Basketball League Report Trial with SoftBank Corp. to utilize tracking data

[Japan Professional Basketball League] [Report] Trial to utilize tracking data with SoftBank Corp. ​
Japan Professional Basketball League Press release: October 25, 2024 [Report] Trial for utilizing tracking data with SoftBank Corp.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/151772/1/151772-1-d5af7202f38de8f74277ca97de2ffad0-3900×2925.jpg

14 cameras installed at Happiness Arena The Japan Professional Basketball League (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Shinji Shimada, hereinafter referred to as “B.LEAGUE”), a public interest incorporated association, conducted a trial to utilize tracking data with its top partner SoftBank Corp. . This trial was held on October 4, 2024 at the Nagasaki Veruca vs. Sunrockers Shibuya match held at the newly opened Happiness Arena in Nagasaki. Hawkeye) tracking system was utilized. The images captured by 14 cameras set up around the court are aggregated by the system, and the players’ bodies and the position of the ball are converted into data. This time, a quiz project on “Basket LIVE” was implemented using this data. There are 10 questions in the quiz, one of which is “Which team’s jumper flew higher in the jump ball? (Not the winner or loser of the jump ball, but the height of the highest point of the jump).” The jump ball height of Nagasaki’s AJ Edu is 294.9cm, and SR Shibuya’s Josh Hawkinson is 282.8cm (data is wrist height), and the correct answer to the quiz was “Nagasaki Veruca”.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/151772/1/151772-1-7c2c20ca80e387e0e7c079b56e23e8bd-456×690.png Quiz project on “Basket LIVE” There was also a question, “Which team will be able to reach the distance equivalent to two weeks (10km) of the Imperial Palace faster than the total distance covered by all the players on each team?” The correct answer was “Nagasaki Veruca”. In reality, the distance traveled by each athlete over time is obtained as data. By the way, at the end of the first half, the longest distance traveled was 1326m by Mark Smith.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/151772/1/151772-1-4e88033f8f3b38690b4236a8cd823780-3900×2600.jpg Announcement of quiz project on “Basket LIVE” With the introduction of Hawkeye’s tracking system, it will be possible to obtain detailed data based on the player’s body and the position of the ball. As the introduction of the system progresses and it becomes possible to stably collect data, the possibilities for initiatives that utilize this data will greatly expand. B.LEAGUE, which aims to be “the world’s most unconventional live sports entertainment,” aims to enrich the viewing experience by introducing ICT, including this Hawkeye technology, and utilizes data to strengthen teams and prevent player injuries to improve quality. We plan to continue working with our partners to provide high quality matches.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/151772/1/151772-1-d9adff5c902ac6e9bbad3991a0e11fad-3900×2600.jpg We aim to utilize data to enrich the viewing experience and provide higher quality matches ■Comment from B.LEAGUE Chairman Shinji Shimada In order to realize “the world’s most unconventional live sports entertainment,” we have placed top priority on building arenas across the country, but what lies ahead is the enrichment of images. What B.LEAGUE should achieve on that stage is to increase not only the number of fans who come to the venue but also the number of fans who watch the event by upgrading the viewing experience. The more B.LEAGUE grows, the more people can experience basketball through the viewing experience. We aim to provide a viewing experience that is different from the arena and pursue quality that meets the diverse needs of fans. ■Comment from Atsufumi Sekido, Service Planning Division, SoftBank Corp. SoftBank will use the power of ICT to promote DX in sports. We believe that raising the level of competition through our technology will lead to the development of the basketball world, rather than simply adding excitement through entertainment. I would like to use this technology to broadcast matches and, in the near future, create a new way to enjoy the games by researching what parts of the game the customers find joy in.