Student Talk Series: Sam Ventura, December 3 @ 12 noon in Olin 268

profputstalentsonice_large-min

 

Title:  A Crash-Course in Sports Statistics

 

Abstract:  The path to becoming successful in the sporting world is substantially different from that of more traditional fields.  Whether you’re an athlete or an analyst, coursework and university degrees matter much less being able to effectively demonstrate you ability to have a positive impact on a team or organization.  In this talk, I will discuss my path to becoming successful in the world of statistics in sports.  I will give a crash-course in the fundamentals of using statistical analysis in sports, discussing important concepts such as repeatability, replacement, and prediction.  I will also touch on more academic topics that are extremely important in the sporting world, such as programming techniques, data visualization, professional communication (writing and speaking).  Finally, I’ll discuss my personal experiences from working with professional sports teams, coaching ice hockey, and teaching students about statistics.  Although my work is primarily in hockey, I will also discuss the use of statistics and quantitative analysis in football, baseball, and basketball.

MAA Student Event: Thursday 11/12 @ 6 in ACWS 108

moneyball

Join the MAA for cookie decorating and a viewing of Moneyball, with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill.

Cookie decorating (and eating!) begins at 6:00 followed by a talk on softball statistics by Coach Courtnay Foster, coach of the Bucknell’s Softball Team.

Coach Foster will talk at 6:30pm, and the movie begins at 6:45pm.

 

Sponsored by the Mathematics Department and the MAA Club