Sports Statistician

Statisticians in the sports sector to try to model sporting events. One of the biggest employers of sports statisticians is in consultancy to the betting industry.

What does a sports statistician do?

Sports statisticians collect and analyse information based on sports performances and use mathematics to create formulas and computer programs that turn sports statistics into new data.

Take a look at our profile of sports statistician Rob Mastrodomenico to learn more.

What qualifications do I need?

The role of a statistician in the sports industry can be varied and can encompass individuals of varying academic backgrounds from undergraduates to PhD

Skills can vary depending upon the position but in general employers look for experience in developing and implementing mathematical or statistical models, experience in statistical computing and relational databases and an understanding of the probability in relation to sporting outcomes and the betting markets.

Research positions would generally be available to those with postgraduate qualifications typically a PhD. However not all roles within the sports sector are research based so in many instances a good undergraduate degree in a mathematical/statistical subject can suffice.

How do I find a job as a sports statistician?

As the sports industry is quite competitive, it is beneficial to find an internship in the industry, in a statistics capacity. This will allow you to have an insight into how statistics is applied within sport. The bigger companies are generally on the look-out and some recruit throughout the year. They are actively present at a lot of statistical conferences. Adverts can also be found on statistical mailing lists. Be warned that competition for these roles can be high so you must do your research before applying.

What are the career prospects of a sports statistician?

With the industry being relatively young, career progression is not as fixed as for other industries. Companies can also be much smaller than in other industries such as pharmaceuticals and the financial sector. In many instances there may be a very flat structure which may not suit all. However, over the last 10 years the industry has grown massively and looks set to continue.