Artificial Intelligence

Tactics meet AI – when algorithms play a part in sport

Can algorithms and AI read a football match? Can data tell us who the true playmakers are – and under how much pressure a pass was made? These are the kinds of questions explored in Episode 7 of Applied Data Science Unboxed, the podcast of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

Podcast: Applied Data Science Unboxed
Episode 7: Tactics meet AI – when algorithms play a part in sport
Host: Fabio Sandmeier
Guests: Martin Rumo and Beat Suter, scoreTec

Host Fabio Sandmeier visits the small yet powerful sports analytics company scoreTec, run by Martin Rumo and Beat Suter, to learn how raw data becomes tactical intelligence. The answer? Not just clever algorithms, but also lots of coffee chats, flipcharts, and a deep understanding of the game.

01:16 – XY Coordinates & Position Data: How Algorithms Read the Game

At the heart of sport analytics lies tracking data: XY coordinates that pinpoint the position of each player and the ball on the field. However, scoreTec’s work begins with this data, not for the numbers alone, but rather to understand the context behind them.

That’s why their workspace looks more like a strategy lab than a tech hub. Flipcharts, sketches, and printed match visuals dominate the room. A setup which reflects their core approach, translating game understanding into data structures.

Listen to this part (01:16)

03:09 – Pressing in Football: The Data Behind Pressure on the Ball

One of the episode’s standout stories involves defining pressing. Coaches intuitively understand when and how pressure is applied during a match. However, translating that into data took time. A spontaneous coffee conversation finally brought clarity: pressing involves identifying the 2–3 nearest players and their speed toward the ball.

This insight led to the development of a Pressing Index – a way to quantify pressure moments using tracking data and linear algebra. And most importantly, it helped answer a recurring question from coaches: Under how much pressure was a pass made?

Listen to this part (03:09)

06:13 – Playmakers in Ice Hockey: What Makes a True Playmaker?

In another project, scoreTec worked with HC Davos to analyze the role of the playmaker in ice hockey. But what does be a playmaker actually mean?

As a result of close collaboration, they defined a playmaker as someone who passes the puck into a better situation. Closer to the goal, with more speed and less defensive pressure. Using positional and performance data, they created metrics to identify these players and presented their findings at the Spengler Cup.

Listen to this part (06:13)

08:08 – From Game Philosophy to Data Pipeline: Making Tactics Measurable

The Swiss Football Association provides a simple yet powerful framework: divide the game into four phases (in possession, losing possession, out of possession, regaining possession) and three zones (defensive third, midfield, attacking third). scoreTec uses this logic to structure their analytics pipeline.

While the starting point is raw tracking data, they extract higher-value event data such as ball recoveries, passes, and transitions. These are visualized and made available to analysts, sometimes even live during the match, enabling coaches to make better decisions without spending sleepless nights with Excel.

Listen to this part (08:08)

12:20 – Analytics Translation in the IDS Master’s Program: From Data to Answers

These same methods are part of the curriculum in the MSc in Applied Information and Data Science (IDS) at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Martin Rumo teaches students how to build data pipelines, extract meaningful events, and above all ask the right questions.

Moreover, in practical modules, students work with real experts like strength and conditioning coaches. Their task? To translate raw data into actionable insight. The secret is good listening, clear communication, and iterative co-creation.

Listen to this part (12:20)

Get the details for the Master’s programme “MSc in Applied Information and Data Science”

Final Takeaway: Data Is Just the Beginning

Ultimately, if this episode makes one thing clear: Data is not the goal, insight is. Great sports data analytics doesn’t start with algorithms – it starts with the right question. And when tactics, data, and a touch of creativity come together, that’s when the real magic happens.