OH Leuven scores using AI in cooperation with UCLL
Students of Applied Computer Science analyse game data for a week, using AI-technology
LEUVEN - Playing with data? OH Leuven takes it literally, via a unique AI-oriented team effort alongside University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (UCLL). 120 students of Applied Computer Science convert what happens in the stadium to a virtual playing field using Artificial Intelligence. How can a football club use match data to find their next star player? That's the focal question which drives the students as well as the club to high-ranking results.
Tomas Sisk
Decisions using AI
Roughly 120 students of Applied Computer Science truly put the ball in the court of Leuven's football club OHL. “Decisions based on data are no quintessential to modern-day soccer, which makes it all the more important for us to connect with the tech professionals of tomorrow. We hope to inspire this 'club of the future' through this innovative and educative data-project,” in the words of Steven Probst, Head of Health - Performance & Analytics at OH Leuven.
UCLL-projectcoordinator and coach Marc van Volsom explains the succesful collaboration; “Artificial Intelligence allows us to make predictions which can even aid clubs in their choice of players as well as their priorities in regards to training them. The lecturers and team of UCLL's Research & Expertise department have joined forces to put all match and physical data of OHL in a model. Using this input, the students analysed which parameters OHL should work and select on. They also reviewed how this information could be used most efficiently, consistently and reliably."
Effect on the Jupiler Pro League
“We have built a simple tool which also allows for smooth integration of future data. In using that approach, the tool we have built remains up to date even after we have handed over our work - and can continue to make a difference even when the matchdata changes. That long-term usability was important to us," explain UCLL-students Renzo Van Audenhoven, Lorenz Van Simaeys, Igor Moens, Kobe T’Joen of winning team 19. “To us it's primarily motivating to be given the opportunity apply real data of a big player such as OHL, which will also genuinely use the analyses we give them. Not everyone can look at a soccer game in the Jupiler Pro League and know their college university project might have had an effect on the results."
Tomas Sisk
Niels Bijloos is Junior Analyst Data & Analytics at OHL and a recently graduated alumnus at the UCLL Bachelor in Applied Computer Science; “It may not seem like the most typical 'match', computers and soccer, but I see and experience every day how big of a role these analyses play at OHL. Each student in these 21 groups brought a drive to this project which was great to see. It was definitely also fantastic to return to my old school as a mentor rather than a student this time."
Teamwork on and beside the field
International students were also involved in this project, with students who joined from Austria, Germany and The Netherlands. “Football is definitely teamwork on and next to the field, we’ve noticed that extra strongly during this project week," says Laura Gregorc, student master data science from Hochschule Joanneum in Austria and part of the winning 'team 19', "I think a lot can be achieved with such an interesting project for both the football team and the students. It was interesting to learn how club values also play a part in data-analysis: play style and ethics are important as well as aspects such as pass accuracy and running speed. We gained a lot of insight in what demands players need to meet in order to best boost their team in the international competition.”
Tomas Sisk
“The analyses and insights we gain from this project, will be used in several departments such as Football, Scouting & Recruitment and Health & Performance. Those data-oriented decisions are also simply better ones.” says Ben Geukens, Head of Operations OHL Academy. “It also reinforces the club's holistic data-informed approach. de holistische data-informed approach. Additionally, a few students will be given the opportunity to continue the project in a durable manner. "
The players involved
Bachelor degree Applied Computer Science
Our Applied Computer Science programme delivers future problem-solvers. Are you driven by tackling challenges and want to develop critical and analytical thinking? Are you an innovator?
Are you looking for a satisfying career in almost any industry, working from almost any location? Then this is a good fit for you!
About OH Leuven
Oud-Heverlee Leuven is a soccer team/football club from Oud-Heverlee and Leuven. The club came forth out of a fusion of a number of old clubs in Leuven. The club colour is white, as well as green, red and black.
OHL Community seeks to have a positive impact on the local community using the power of soccer and the activities of OH Leuven as leverage in tackling socio-cultural challenges.
About R&E: Digital Solutions
Digital Solutions considers it its mission to assimilate emerging social and technological evolutions in computing and digitisation and to visualise socially relevant application domains with a view to employability.
It also seeks to support the digital transformation in our companies and society in a practical and sustainable way in order to embed wealth creation