Syracuse Sun

Over the summer, dozens of high school students from across the country participated in the Berlin Sport Analytics Academy at Syracuse University. The program offers an immersive experience of college life and a preview of the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics' sport analytics curriculum. Since its inception in 2019, the academy has provided students with insights into data's significant role in the sports industry.

Participants resided in dormitories, dined at campus facilities, utilized university labs, and practiced with industry software such as Tableau and Excel. Max Kaplan, a rising senior from Marietta, Georgia, shared his thoughts: “It’s helpful; moving in, especially. Knowing what I’ll need will make it easier a year from now when I’m moving into whatever dorm.” Kaplan plans to apply for early decision to Falk College after learning about the academy during a tour in March.

The program included visits to local sports venues like Syracuse Crunch, Syracuse Mets, Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Students engaged with industry professionals and toured various facilities. On campus, they completed NFL combine-style exercises using Catapult Sports Technology vests that track performance metrics such as heart rate and energy expenditure. This data was later analyzed for a mock draft exercise.

Assistant Professor Jeremy Losak emphasized the hands-on nature of the program: “They’re getting a real taste of what it means to do sport analytics here at Syracuse University. A lot of what we’re doing is hands-on experience working with data in the same sort of way that they would as students here and as professionals.”

The academy also featured an Esports Day as Falk College prepares to launch its esports degree program this fall. Nick Riccardi, adjunct professor at Falk College, explained: “While one person in the pair is playing, the other person is doing scouting reports. We are looking to do our best to simulate what in-game analytics would look like.”

Dani Dallas from San Francisco initially felt apprehensive about being one of only three girls in her session but quickly found comfort among her peers: “I’ve never felt singled out or different or like I don’t have as much knowledge about sports,” she said. Kaplan echoed similar sentiments regarding camaraderie within the group.

The Berlin Sport Analytics Academy fosters connections among students interested in sports industry careers while providing them with practical experience and insights.

For more information on applying to the Berlin Sport Analytics Academy or learning about Falk College's sport analytics program, visit their website.

The academy is supported by Andrew Berlin ’83 and partners from Falk College’s Office of Pre-College Programs.