Researchers from the University of Zielona Góra have once again undertaken the challenge of analyzing athletic performance. This time, the subject of their research and analysis will be the players of the ORLEN Zastal Zielona Góra basketball team. On Tuesday, 28 April this year, an agreement concerning joint activities aimed at promoting and developing technologies for sport was officially signed at the University auditorium. The event also provided an excellent opportunity for members of the academic community to meet the players and coaching staff.
Basketball is often regarded as one of the most academic of all sports disciplines.
“The University of Zielona Góra strives to participate actively in the sporting life of the city and the region, not only through support from the stands but also by providing scientific expertise. Our researchers are capable of helping athletes prepare more effectively for competition on the court,” emphasized Prof. Dr. hab. Wojciech Strzyżewski, Rector of the University of Zielona Góra.
The preparation of athletes is to be based on comprehensive scientific research conducted beforehand. Experts from the University will assess, among other factors, the body composition, strength, and physical performance of each player.
“I am pleased that we have access to a practical problem that we can actively address. The project involves image and video processing in order to obtain precise telemetry data, trajectory analyses, and parameters describing players’ performance during games. We are also examining biomechanical movement parameters that may contribute to the estimation or prediction of physical loads potentially leading to injuries,” explained Dr. Maciej Niedziela, Professor at the University of Zielona Góra from the Institute of Mathematics.
It hardly needs to be emphasized that basketball is an exceptionally dynamic sport.
“The game requires excellent aerobic and anaerobic endurance, appropriate body parameters, and physical strength. We plan to evaluate all of these aspects and subsequently provide the results to the coaching staff so they can optimize the players’ physical preparation. Athletic performance is largely based on anthropometric and biomechanical profiles, as well as human physiology. We intend to assess all of these parameters comprehensively,” added Dr. hab. Mariusz Naczk, Professor at the University of Zielona Góra and Vice-Rector for Development and Finance.
The collaboration established on Tuesday is expected to prove as valuable as a successful three-point shot. Not only the players and research team, but also the fans, stand to benefit, as improved performance on the court may ultimately translate into better league results.
“I expect this cooperation to contribute directly to our victories. Everyone should appreciate such scientific collaboration. Basketball is mathematics — we play on a rectangle and throw a sphere into a circle. It can all be calculated in some way. I am very enthusiastic about this partnership and convinced that the initiative will bring measurable benefits in future seasons. There will be individual benefits for each player, as well as advantages for the entire team. We will likely learn whether we are running at the appropriate pace, maintaining proper angles, and preserving the correct spacing between players. It will be pure mathematics — everything will be measured and analyzed. Then it will be necessary to sit down, review the data, and expect players to apply the recommendations of the experts,” explained Arkadiusz Miłoszewski, head coach of ORLEN Zastal Zielona Góra.
The first observations have already been conducted, although the full-scale research project will begin after the conclusion of the current season.
“We are pleased that we can finally officially announce our cooperation. We want the world of sport to once again connect with academic knowledge. We hope this partnership will bring mutual benefits. We are committed to promoting both our team and the university. These are jewels of the Lubusz region that deserve to be showcased,” added Katarzyna Marciniak, President of ORLEN Zastal Zielona Góra.
The Tuesday meeting was not limited solely to the signing of the letter of intent. Participants — including students of the University of Zielona Góra — were given a unique opportunity to speak directly with the players of the Zielona Góra basketball team. Questions from the audience concerned, among other topics, methods of coping with stress, maintaining physical fitness and diet, team atmosphere, and the relationship between sport and science. The event also included commemorative photographs and autograph sessions.
