The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has partnered with sports data firm Kitman Labs to gain deeper insights on match analytics.
Kitman Labs will provide England football’s officiating body with a tailored, fully integrated data and analytics platform that serves to provide its match officials and performance support staff with a real-time and comprehensive view of performance, training and medical data.
The ‘Intelligence Platform’ for PGMOL has been designed to help develop and optimise the athletic and cognitive performance of match officials across multiple aspects, including sports science and operational support.
Dr. Steve McNally, Performance Support Director of the PGMOL, stated: “The athletic development and care of our match officials is critical as we continue to play our part in striving to positively contribute to the game. It’s for this reason that we’re investing in the Intelligence Platform to support the continued development of our match officials.
“The new partnership with Kitman Labs allows us to effectively utilise health and athletic performance data to promote best physical and cognitive preparation for match officiating.”
Kitman Labs’ Intelligence Platform provides benefits such as real-time access and insights, aimed at facilitating immediate access to data captured on the pitch. It can also store weekly training programmes for enhanced effectiveness to monitor athletic development.
Furthemore, the singular, unified platform also provides reviews for match officials to encourage a more collaborative approach, as well as comprehensive tracking of injuries and illnesses regarding officials’ health.
Stephen Smith, Kitman Labs Founder and CEO, said: “The use of the Intelligence Platform by PGMOL showcases the configurability, relevance and power of a single, integrated platform to address the performance needs of diverse stakeholders across Sport.
The platform has been developed to aggregate and leverage all data sources in a single platform to ultimately drive collaboration, eliminate information silos and provide actionable intelligence for anyone vested in or responsible for unlocking performance outcomes at the club or league level.”
Kitman Labs has a track record of working with sports governing bodies, leagues, teams and athletes, including basketball, rugby and American football. The company’s technology has been used by leagues and teams in the US also, including the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Soccer (MLS), National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
