TUM’s Innovative Software Boosts German Beach Volleyball Team to Olympic Silver

TUM’s Innovative Software Boosts German Beach Volleyball Team to Olympic Silver

(IN BRIEF) The Technical University of Munich (TUM) played a key role in helping the German beach volleyball team of Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler secure a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. The team’s success was supported by innovative analytics tools developed by TUM’s Chair of Performance Analysis and Sports Informatics. These tools allowed for in-depth analysis of opponents’ behaviors and provided training enhancements using 3D glasses and eye-tracking technology to improve decision-making skills. This collaboration exemplifies TUM’s commitment to advancing sports science and maintaining Germany’s competitiveness in international sports, with similar projects also supporting other sports associations.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 13-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The German beach volleyball duo of Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler has secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, showcasing exceptional skill and strategy throughout the tournament. Their success can be attributed in part to advanced analytics tools developed by the Technical University of Munich (TUM), which were instrumental in both their training and opponent analysis.

Utilizing cutting-edge software created by TUM’s Chair of Performance Analysis and Sports Informatics, the German team was able to analyze various data points to identify key patterns in their opponents’ behavior. “Our software can reveal tendencies in player actions, such as how they respond after making mistakes or how their defensive formations affect blocking decisions,” explained Prof. Daniel Link, who leads the research team. This analytical approach has previously aided teams like Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann, who won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, and Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst, who triumphed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

In preparation for the Paris Games, researchers developed new training software that employed 3D glasses and eye-tracking technology to enhance defenders’ observational skills and decision-making processes. “In beach volleyball, quick recognition of an attacking shot’s direction is crucial for defensive players,” noted Fabian Tobias, the national scientific coach for the German Volleyball Association (DVV) and a doctoral candidate at TUM. This training allowed athletes to improve their anticipation of in-game situations.

TUM’s collaboration with Germany’s leading sports associations extends beyond volleyball, encompassing the German Badminton Association (DBV), the German Athletics Association (DLV), and more. Many projects are funded by the German Federal Institute for Sports Science (BISp) through the Scientific Network for Competitive Sports (WVL). “We are committed to exploring innovations that enhance athletic performance,” stated Daniel Link. “Our goal is to contribute to Germany’s status as a competitive force in international sports, as evidenced by our achievements in Paris.”

For Further Information:

For more details about TUM’s contributions to sports science and its impact on athletes, please refer to the following publications:

• Link, D., & Raab, M. (2022). Experts use base rates in real-world sequential decisions. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 29(2), 660–667. doi: 10.3758/s13423-021-02024-6
• Wenninger, S., Link, D., & Lames, M. (2020). Performance of machine learning models in application to beach volleyball data. International Journal of Computer Science in Sport, 19(1), 24-36. doi: 10.2478/ijcss-2020-0002
• Link, D. (2014). A toolset for beach volleyball game analysis based on object tracking. International Journal of Computer Science in Sport, 13(1), 24-35.

Media Contact:

Corporate Communications Center
presse@tum.de

Prof. Dr. Daniel Link
Technical University of Munich
Chair of Performance Analysis and Sports Informatics
+49 89 289 24500
daniel.link@tum.de

SOURCE: Technical University of Munich