New enhancements to the SAP-NHL Coaching Insights App for iPad, an SAP application in collaboration with the National Hockey League (NHL), aim to expand real-time, in-game data and statistical analysis for coaches, extend usability for preparation before and after games, and further simplify the app’s user experience.
In 2014, SAP, the NHL, and Apple began working together to find ways to give players and coaches more data in real-time directly on the bench, including instant replays and statistics. By 2019, the first version of SAP-NHL Coaching Insights App for iPad was released. Built on SAP Business Technology Platform and powered by the SAP HANA Cloud database, the application runs on custom configured Apple iPad and is utilised by hockey coaches for game strategy development.
Amy Schulz, Senior Director of Global Sponsorships at SAP, explained that SAP Analytics Cloud powers the data organisation and visualisation of the Coaching Insights App while SAP HANA Cloud provides the processing power and storage capacity to deliver the data to coaches immediately.
Schulz, who is responsible for strategy, implementation, and management of key partnerships across the SAP Sports and Entertainment platform, also noted the importance of tailoring the app for coaches who have expert knowledge on hockey rather than technology. She remarked:
“Technology should always be there to enable the coaches to do their jobs in a quicker way, and it shouldn’t be a hindrance. Sometimes when you over-engineer something or innovate for innovation’s sake, it doesn’t get used.”
Schulz further believes that a successful application understands what data is most important for coaches. She added:
“This is an iterative process and we knew we had to start with small subsets of data that they were familiar with and then put insights and visualisations into it to get everybody used to using the application.”
New Enhancements to the NHL-SAP Application for Coaching Insights
The latest release of the Coaching Insights App expands the available features of the first version that was launched in 2019. The following upgrades, which stem from off-season workshops with all 31 NHL coaching staff, include:
- Customisable “Home Plate” visual feature that enables coaches to choose one of five different variants of high-chance scoring areas to build strategies and compare the team against the opponent.
- Head-to-head face-off matchup planner functionality that allows coaches to review potential matchups and decide which player is best to take a face-off. To assist in rapid decision-making, this feature provides coaches with real-time targeted data.
- Speed tracker for players that equips NHL clubs with insights to the speed and distance skated during a player’s shift as well as the total for a game.
- Improved game trends and analytics allowing coaches to analyse key data points, helping gain insights into momentum shifts through game trending capabilities.
- Expanded access to the app that empowers coaches to better strategise by collecting information and shaping the game plan even on off days.
- A Puck and Player Tracking system, with SAP HANA Cloud as its processing engine, is also expected to be integrated with the SAP-NHL Coaching Insights App. The solution will store, update, and translate a huge amount of new, actionable data in near real-time to coaching staff.
Sharing his experience on using the SAP application, Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan said that coaches have relied on technology more than ever to interact with players during the COVID-19 pandemic. He observed:
“Speaking to the app, the condensed schedule has presented an increased importance on managing our players’ workloads. Closely tracking ‘Time on Ice’ and other metrics has been critical for us.”
