READING PASSAGE-2
You should spend about 20 minutes on
Questions 14-26,
which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
A
The first sports game was televised in the USA more than fifty years ago.
Over the following decades television provided sports coaches with a wealth of
information to analyse.
By viewing recordings, they could study the number of
passes received, tackles avoided, distances covered, speeds achieved and a host
of other factors relating to the performance of their teams or athletes. Most of
this data, though, consisted of bare statistics without any meaningful context.
However, the use of artificial intelligence (Al) is now enabling an alternative
approach to coaching. Al means the development of computer systems that can
perform tasks usually associated with human intelligence, such as decision
making. Increasingly, computers are being trained to understand the rules and
objectives of sports so they can coach more directly. Al can analyse not only a
player's actions, but also relate those actions to the wider context, including the
directives of the coach and the actions of other players. Sports scientists believe
that Al is revolutionising sports coaching by analysing patterns of behaviour in
ways simply not possible before.
B
There may be limitless ways in which Al technology can be developed, but
certain practical applications are already apparent. Recently, a research
experiment was conducted into the Spanish football league using an Al
algorithm to analyse the passing strategies of 20 teams. The research revealed
that two teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid, had more than 150 recurring
passing patterns. However, the algorithm detected just 31 passing patterns used
by Atlético Madrid. All of Atlético's other plays were one-offs that were never
repeated, and the team won the league that season. One conclusion seems to be
that teams with a less predictable style of play win more games. What's more,
according to Dr Johann Muller, a sports scientist who has studied the Spanish
research findings, the number of injuries a team suffers increases when they
play in a style that prioritises offence.
C
Since then, there has been a great deal of interest in the potential of Al.
Professor of sports education Rebecca Graves believes that Al can provide
coaches with invaluable insights. 'Tactics were once closely guarded secrets,'
says Professor Graves, 'but now a coach with access to Al can identify how a
rival team is likely to play a match based on historic form. Once this was largely
guesswork but now it can be achieved with some confidence! The expense of Al
technology means it will probably remain beyond the reach of all but elite
teams, but among this group the implications are enormous. Professor Graves
argues that Al allows preparations for a match to be tailored to individual
players with much greater precision. She identifies fitness work, skills
development,
diet
and
numerous
other
factors
that
can
be
minutely
customised,
based
on
an
individual's
particular
strengths
and
weaknesses.
D
Part
of
the
appeal
of
Al
lies
in
its
versatility.
Ice
hockey
coaches
in
Finland
are
using
Al
to
analyse
the
success
of
different
plays.
An
Indian
company
has
employed
wearable
technology
developed
in
other
>ields
to
analyse
stride
patterns.
This
analysis
has
allowed
its
technicians
to
develop
sneakers
in
various
styles
aimed
at
both
long-
and
short-
distance
runners.
Coaching
practices
in
professional
basketball,
American
football
and
tennis
are
also
being
transformed
by
Al.
In
addition,
the
technology
has
applications
in
highly
technical
sports
such
as
car
racing.
Coaches
involved
in
the
National
Association
for
Stock
Car
Auto
Racing
(NASCAR)
believe
that
Al
algorithms
not
only
help
drivers
go
faster
but
also
enhance
the
safety
of
the
sport
because
of
their
ability
to
monitor
and
predict
potential
problems.
E
Al
doesn't
get
tired,
has
extraordinary
powers
of
vision,
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