Harish Amatya loves sports, but the junior finance major also loves crunching numbers. As president of the UNC Charlotte Sports Analytics Club in the Belk College of Business, he has found a way to merge the two.
Amatya and fellow club members help UNC Charlotte athletics teams analyze game statistics and use those statistics to tailor players’ workouts so their bodies are primed come game time. The club is working specifically with the football and baseball teams, as well as men’s and women’s basketball.
The club, which started in spring 2018, has grown from 15 to 35 members this semester.
“We’re actually making a big impact,” Amatya said “We also get to get close to the coaches and players, which is really cool.”
Something that would help club members do a better job for the teams are GPS devices to more accurately collect the data for analysis.
The Sports Analytics Club is mounting a crowdfunding campaign to purchase at least 20 trackers that would be used by the football team. The club’s campaign is one of eight fall crowdfunding campaigns that launched Monday, Oct. 15.
The goal is to raise at least $5,000. The cost for 20 units is between $3,000 and $6,000 depending on the company the team buys them from, Amatya said.
The devices will attach to vests worn by the football team under their uniforms during practices and games. Amatya said the devices will collect data such as the distance players cover or the intensity of their workouts — information that is hard to track just by watching a workout or game. He said the devices are commonly used by sports teams at larger universities.
The more trackers the club has the better, Amatya said. And sports data analysis is a long-term project for future Sports Analytics Club members.
“We’re hoping this club will continue and people will keep using these devices,” he said.
To donate to the Sports Analytics Club’s crowdfunding campaign, visit Crowdfund.
The other fall crowdfunding campaigns are:
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The 49er Rocketry Club, composed of engineering students, is raising money to enter and attend the 2018 NASA Student Launch Competition. Students design, build and fly high-powered rockets to complete a mission designed by NASA.
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The International Formula SAE program offers an engineering design competition for undergraduate and graduate students. The competition enhances students’ engineering design and project management skills by challenging them to build a single-seat race car.
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The Indian International Scholarship Fund will assist Indian students who wish to study at UNC Charlotte.
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Global Medical Brigades (GMB) establishes free health clinics in rural communities around the world with the help of licensed health care professionals. GMB is sending 30 UNC Charlotte students to Panama in May 2019 to bring medical supplies and equipment to its clinics.
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The Italian Club is raising funds to participate in Charlotte’s Festa Italiana, a festival that celebrates Italian culture.
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The Rugby Club Team is raising money to purchase a scrummaging machine, a padded piece of equipment that helps players enhance their technique and strength.
- French Civilizations in Paris is raising money for a spring break trip to Paris.