Registration
In order to register to attend the CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop, please email cmsac@stat.cmu.edu to receive access to the online registration store. Registration cost for all attendees is $50. The workshop will feature invited talks, a poster session, an advanced modeling tutorial (led by Sameer Deshpande), and ample opportunity for networking. All attendees will receive access to the workshop proceedings, a single PDF file consisting of work by the invited talks and poster presenters. We will provide printed name tags for attendees that register before May 11th (handwritten name tags will be available at check-in). Drinks/coffee, snacks, and lunch will be provided during the workshop.
Registering indicates agreement to abide by the Code of Conduct .
Invited Talks
Brian Burke
Sports Data Scientist, ESPN
Brian Burke is a sports data scientist at ESPN and an early pioneer in football analytics. Prior to joining ESPN he founded the website Advanced Football Analytics, where he developed the core metrics and models still widely used throughout the sport. He was formerly a consultant to several NFL teams, a regular contributor the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC Sports, among other outlets. His recent work has been focused on building individual player metrics using tracking data. Before entering the world of sports analytics, Burke was an officer and aviator in the United States Navy serving as an F/A-18 carrier pilot. He flew numerous combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and numerous other personal and unit commendations.
Eric Eager
VP of Research and Development, SumerSports
Eric Eager is the VP of Research and Development at SumerSports, a sports analytics startup founded by Paul Tudor Jones and Jack Jones. Prior to Sumer, Eric ran research and development at PFF for three years and hosted the PFF Forecast with George Chahrouri. Eric has a PhD in mathematical biology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and has published over 30 papers in sports analytics, applied mathematics, biology, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Ron Yurko
Assistant Teaching Professor in Statistics & Data Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Ron Yurko is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Statistics & Data Science at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on developing methods at the interface of inference and machine learning, oriented towards problems in natural language processing, statistical genetics, and sports analytics. He previously received his PhD in Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University, and has industry experience in both finance and professional sports.
Bayesian Modeling Session
Sameer Deshpande
Assistant Professor in Statistics, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Sameer is an Assistant Professor in Statistics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research interests include Bayesian hierarchical modeling, Bayesian treed regression, variable selection, and causal inference. Much of his methodological work is motivated by an interest in understanding the long-term health consequences of playing American-style tackle football.
Poster Abstract Submission
Workshop Location
Carnegie Mellon University
Steinberg Auditorium
4909 Frew St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
From PIT Airport
1. Head northeast on Airport Blvd
2. Keep left to stay on Airport Blvd - 0.6 mi
3. Keep left to stay on Airport Blvd - 0.7 mi
4. Continue straight to stay on Airport Blvd - 0.2 mi
5. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for
I-376 E/I-79 E/Pittsburgh/Pennsylvania Turnpike E and
merge onto I-376 E - 0.6 mi
6. Merge onto I-376 E - 16.4 mi
7. Keep right to stay on I-376 E - 2.1 mi
8. Take exit 72A to merge onto Forbes Ave toward Oakland - 0.3 mi
9. Merge onto Forbes Ave - 1.0 mi
10. Turn right onto Schenley Drive Extension - 449 ft
11. Turn left onto Schenley Drive - 0.2 mi
12. Turn left onto Frew St 0.2 mi
13. Destination will be on the left
Schedule Details
Located in Steinberg Auditorium (times are subject to change)
-
9:00 AM
Registration and Check-in
-
9:50 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Ron Yurko -
10:00 AM
Individual Receiver Metrics Using Tracking Data
Brian Burke -
10:30 AM
Coffee Break
-
10:45 AM
Using Tracking Data to Build Offensive Line Development Tools
Eric Eager -
11:15 AM
Coffee Break
-
11:30 AM
Research Discussion Panel
Brian Burke and Eric Eager, moderated by Ron Yurko -
12:00 PM
Lunch and Poster Session
-
1:30 PM
NFL Ghosts and CMSAC Lab
Ron Yurko -
2:00 PM
Coffee Break
-
2:15 PM
Applied modeling with Bayesian Additive Regression Trees: How, Why, and When
Sameer Deshpande -
3:45 PM
Closing Remarks
Ron Yurko -
4:00 PM
Networking Reception
Our Sponsors
Bayesian Modeling Tutorial Sponsor
Contact cmsac@stat.cmu.edu for information about sponsorship opportunities.
Contact Us
The CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop is proudly hosted by the Department of Statistics & Data Science.
Questions can be directed to cmsac@stat.cmu.edu.
CMSAC Activities Conduct Policy
(modeled on the ASA Activities Conduct Policy approved November 30, 2018 by American Statistical Association Board of Directors)
The CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop is committed to providing an atmosphere in which personal respect and intellectual growth are valued and the free expression and exchange of ideas are encouraged. Consistent with this commitment, it is CMSAC policy that all participants in CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop activities enjoy a welcoming environment free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. This includes, but is not limited to, members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, color, immigration status, social and economic class, educational level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, size, family status, political belief, religion, and mental and physical ability.
All CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop participants —including, but not limited to, attendees, statisticians, data scientists, sports analysts, students, registered guests, staff, contractors, sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers —in the conference or any other related activity—whether official or unofficial—agree to comply with all rules and conditions of the activities. Your registration for or attendance at the 2024 CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop indicates your agreement to abide by this policy and its terms.
Expected Behavior
- Model and support the norms of professional respect necessary to promote the conditions for healthy exchange of scientific ideas.
- Speak and conduct yourself professionally; do not insult or disparage other participants.
- Be conscious of hierarchical structures in the sports analytics and/or broader statistics/data science community, specifically the existence of stark power differentials among students, junior analysts/statisticians, and senior analysts/statisticians—noting that fear of retaliation from those in senior-level positions can make it difficult for students or those in junior level positions to express discomfort, rebuff unwelcome advances, and report violations of the conduct policy.
- Be sensitive to body language and other non-verbal signals and respond respectfully.
Unacceptable Behavior
- Violent threats or language directed against another person
- Discriminatory jokes and language
- Inclusion of unnecessary sexually explicit, violent, or otherwise sensitive materials in presentations
- Posting (or threatening to post), without permission, other people’s personally identifying information online, including on social networking sites
- Personal insults including, but not limited to, those using racist, sexist, homophobic, or xenophobic terms
- Unwelcome solicitation of emotional or physical intimacy such as sexual advances; propositions; sexual flirtations; sexually-related touching; and graphic gestures or comments about sex or another person’s dress, body, or sexual activities
- Advocating for, encouraging, or dismissing the severity of any of the above behaviors.
Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
At the sole discretion of the CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop program committee, unacceptable behavior may result in removal from or denial of access to meeting facilities or activities, without refund of any applicable registration fees or costs. In addition, the CMSAC reserves the right to report violations to an individual’s employer or institution or to a law-enforcement agency. Those engaging in unacceptable behavior may also be banned from future CMSAC activities or face additional penalties.
What to Do if You Witness or Are Subject to Unacceptable Behavior
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns relating to harassment, please contact a member of the CMSAC program committee either in person or at cmsac@stat.cmu.edu. If you witness potential harm to a conference participant, be proactive in helping to mitigate or avoid that harm; if you see or hear something that concerns you, please say something.
Process for Adjudicating Reports of Misconduct
The CMSAC will contract with an independent entity to manage and adjudicate reported violations of the conduct policy.
Note: This Code of Conduct may be revised at any time by the CMSAC Football Analytics Workshop. Questions, concerns, or comments should be directed to cmsac@stat.cmu.edu.