22 November 2023
Solid numbers – in-game statistics to benefit experts, players and fans
In-game statistics, originally introduced to curling to benefit broadcasters, is experiencing a renaissance, believes Christian Saager, who has been in charge of results and data at World Curling events for over 30 years.
Now the data generated to describe each shot can be used — not just by sport commentators — “this player has over 80% successful take-outs” — but also by coaches, sports schools and curling enthusiasts worldwide for comprehensive analysis of matches, teams and players.
Keeping track of game statistics is a responsible task, and Fraser Riddoch, 17, an experienced junior curler from Aberdeen, host city for the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2023, decided to challenge his skills and determination by responding to the organisers’ call for volunteer statisticians.
After training, he took his place at the screen with a specialised software, where the parameters of each stone must be carefully input and its location specified… carefully, but quickly… very quickly.
“You have to make sure to keep up because players can play quite quickly, and you need to move stones around shot-by-shot, but they’ve played the next stone, and it’s like, what happened there?,” Fraser says.
Steve Cooper, 64, an amateur curler at Curl Aberdeen for only two years, also joined the statistics team. He agrees with his younger teammate, “You just can’t afford to be distracted at all because if you take your eyes off, you miss something.”
However, unless the statistician can adjust to the pace of the game over a few ends, determining the type of throws, is a task that, without significant knowledge of modern curling, will be very challenging.
Christian notes that while a motivated fan can handle the match timer, being a former or a current player is essential for statistics.
Fraser elaborates, “It is vital to closely follow the skip, to work out what they are trying to ask for and catch the hand and brush signals.”
However, everyone agrees that even with significant experience, there are also contentious situations where it’s not immediately clear whether it was a good “draw” or a bad “take-out.”
Shots’ efficiency rating on a scale from 0 to 4 is another subject of complex decisions. Especially when you’re evaluating the best players in Europe.
“Sure, you want them to make the shots, but if they sort of half made it, or completely missed, then you’ve got to, it is kind of obvious,” notes Fraser.
Steve is more composed, “I completely ignore the players. The only thing I check is, does the name match the name in the programme, which by the way seems quite daunting.”
Christian elaborates on the point, “The programme that forms our database is specifically designed for curling, and of course, we do everything possible to ensure that volunteers, preparing to take charge of statistics, can familiarise themselves with it before the start of the competition.”
It may seem remarkable that volunteers are ready to take on such responsible tasks and the chief of results does not sugar the pill, “At the beginning, we always tell them, that the first end is like hell,” Christian says.
But Steve has an answer — besides the opportunity to watch games from the very best (and for this event warm!) seats, statisticians also get a chance to observe techniques for personal practise: “I am just in awe of their accuracy, honestly. I mean, it is staggering how consistent they are, they’re fantastic to watch. You see shots that you would’t normally see. Hopefully, it will help improve my game.”
Fraser adds, “It’s quite enjoyable to come along and see what the other people have to say, and be around people who share your interests.”
Christian can recall many examples of people, volunteering for the sake of curling since the 2006 Olympics and before. While he is positive about the current recruiting method, he would be glad to form a more permanent team of statisticians with growing experience and thus more accurate data.
Aberdeen and the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2023 might leave its mark in this formation. Steve simply says, “I was apprehensive beforehand. And if you’d asked me before we started, I would’ve probably said, I’m not sure what I’d let myself in for and if I’d want to do it again, but I would. Absolutely. I’ve already said that. Next competition I’ll do it.”
The shot-by-shot charts and statistics for every game can be found here.
Written by: Valerii Sazonov, Sports Media Trainee
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