If plays, players, and personalities are the shiny surface of sports, statistics are the structural steel. You need to be able to identify team and individual performances by the numbers to explain why games turned out the way they did. Oftentimes a game comes down to a single play or sequence of plays. Much like statistics, you need to be able to track play-by-play throughout the game because a play or a run or a rally may become significant only in retrospect. We’ll develop the skills to use both stats and PBP to determine key reasons why games came out the way they did.
Statistics class and assignments
Readings 1
Sections on baseball, basketball, softball (print out several copies of this for class and future homework) Lecture 1
Quiz 1
Discussion (Jan. 26 class)
What makes a stat important Comparing to past performances Good and bad social media Activity 2
Watch an NBA game and keep stats on the sheet above. Post a picture of your stat sheet to the channel for your instructor. In a comment on that picture, explain the key stat that you think determined the outcome of the game. Compose at least two tweets during the game noting important stats. Hashtag #introsports21 and tag your instructor: (if you type “#introsports21 @welchsuggs,” your tweet shows up in the Team Suggs Twitter channel on Slack. Same for Team Led and Team Finlay.) Lab (Jan. 28 class)
Lecture 2: Infographics
Activity 3: Infographics
Looking at , come up with a package of stats for the team as a whole or a particular individual and use Canva to build an infographic around it. Photos can be found on . Post your graphic to the ch2_statistics_ugabb channel for your instructor by Jan. 31. Post a comment comparing your graphic to one of your classmates’ on his or her graphic by Feb. 1. Infographics Lab (Feb. 2 class)
Digital rights and ethics Field assignment
Vanderbilt vs UGA men’s basketball, Feb. 6,
Prep
Who are the statistical leaders for each team? Are there particular statistical categories in which either team excels? What stat or performance do you think will be key to the outcome? Share this via DM before the game with your instructor via DM. In-game
Keep stats (2pt, 3pt, Reb, FT, Fouls) on basketball stat sheets and turn in by taking pictures at game’s end. Social media: Minimum of two stat-focused tweets per half. Hashtag #introsports21 and tag your instructor in one phrase, e.g. #introsports @DOrlandoLED Postgame
At the conclusion of the game, fill out the and submit pictures of your stat sheets. Then, write a short story (300 words) describing the stat that determined the game outcome. Submit to your instructor by Slack DM within 60 minutes of game ending. Write your own story; this is not with a partner. Create an infographic that uses key stats that tell a story from the game. Save as .jpg or get an online link. and send by Slack DM to your instructor within 24 hours of the game ending. Also not with your partner