Data Sciencefor Professional Sport
Scott Peterson
With 9+ years in professional sport, I bridge the gap between raw data and actionable insights. As your "third coach," I help teams make smarter decisions through advanced analytics and performance analysis.
My career spans both employee and consultant roles across professional sporting organizations, where I've developed expertise in transforming complex datasets into clear, actionable strategies that drive performance improvements.
Professional Experience
2016 - Present
- •Founded and operate independent consultancy providing performance analysis and data science services to professional sporting organizations.
- •Partner with elite sports teams to transform complex data into competitive advantages through advanced analytics and custom solutions.
- •Deliver specialized consulting across data strategy, workflow automation, and performance insights.
- •Build lasting relationships with sporting organizations, often maintaining multi-year engagements.
Principal Data Scientist
Jul 2022 - Present • 3 years
- •Received CEO commendation for leading Cricket NSW's legacy preservation project, developing a comprehensive digital archive celebrating the organization's rich history of players, coaches, and administrators.
- •Lead data strategy for the high-performance department, identifying competitive advantages and productionizing intellectual property across multiple elite programs.
- •Collaborate closely with performance analysis teams to develop industry-leading processes, tools, and insights that streamline workflows and deliver enhanced value to managers, coaches, and players.
- •Integrate Sport Science & Sports Medicine data into centralized repositories, supporting research publications while increasing accessibility and utility of athlete management systems.
- •Design drafting and squad management tools for executives and selection boards, enabling data-driven decisions across Big Bash, Major League Cricket, and international affiliate programs.
Data Scientist & Performance Analyst
Aug 2019 - Jul 2022 • 3 years
- •Founded and led the Performance Analysis department, transforming part-time operations into a comprehensive high-performance unit supporting 8 teams across 9 franchise, domestic, and international competitions.
- •Automated training and matchday performance workflows, developing integrated software solutions that combine video analysis with pre-, during-, and post-match data. Built BI models and web applications using R and Python.
- •Mentored analysts to develop data science skills and hone their performance analysis methodologies, enabling them to uncover competitive advantages and deploy insights through accessible, dynamic tools.
Jan 2019 - Feb 2025
- •Implement comprehensive data pipelines (web scraping, API integration, data cleaning, and cloud deployment) maintaining centralized datasets across AFL, AFLW, VFL, Netball, and commercial operations.
- •Consult with performance analysis teams, Head of Sport Science & Sports Medicine, and Head of Customer Acquisition to design tailored data architecture enabling critical insights for squad selection, board reporting, and opposition analysis.
- •Generate operational efficiencies enabling GWS to operate lean while reallocating budget toward competitive advantage initiatives, grassroots participation programs, fan engagement strategies, and internship development programs.
- •Contributed to organizational success as GWS reached finals in 4 of 6 years during tenure.
Sep 2018 - Jun 2019
- •Continued development of automated analysis workflows and data-driven insights for A-League competition.
- •Applied learnings from Sydney FC to enhance performance analysis capabilities.
- •Collaborated with coaching staff to implement tactical analysis frameworks.
Jul 2018 - Jun 2023
- •Developed and integrated high-impact reporting and automation processes deployed across all organizational levels, streamlining operations and improving data accessibility.
- •Partnered directly with CEO to design executive dashboards and monitoring tools for tracking key revenue and growth indicators.
- •Managed data validation, statement generation, and distribution systems for NDIS clients while leading the transition to modernized data infrastructure.
Jun 2016 - Oct 2018
- •Led goalkeeping research implementation that enabled Sydney FC to break 5 A-League records: most clean sheets in a season (16), fewest goals conceded in a season (12), fewest goals conceded at home (4), best goal difference (+43), and most goals scored (64).
- •Developed automated, streamlined analysis workflows founded in data science and computer programming, transforming traditional performance analysis approaches.
- •Led research focused on goalkeeper-striker interactions, conducting studies aligned with coaching philosophy to generate measurable competitive advantages.
- •Created comprehensive training and match analysis reports through coding and video breakdown, delivering actionable insights to players and coaches.
- •Managed end-to-end data processes including storage, manipulation, and analysis to develop strategic insights and maximize analytical value.
2007 - 2015
- •Officiated football and futsal matches at various competitive levels.
- •Developed deep understanding of game dynamics and rules from an officiating perspective.
- •Enhanced communication and decision-making skills under pressure.
Education
Master of Data Science
James Cook University
2019
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Honours)
Australian Catholic University
2018
Honours Research
Developing a football performance analysis framework to define the goalkeeper-striker relationship at the individual tactical level.
Bachelor Exercise Science / Bachelor Business Administration
Australian Catholic University
2014 - 2017
Academic Achievements
- •Academic Excellence Scholarship
- •Executive Dean's Commendation (2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017)
Publications
A review of the interaction between the striker and the goalkeeper at the individual tactical level in football
Peterson, S. W., & Bruton, M. R.
Abstract
Recent performance analysis techniques have attempted to move beyond a narrow focus on game outcomes by considering the game, team, group and individual tactical levels. Goals are decisive in football, yet the extent to which the individual goalkeeper had been studied was unknown. We therefore systematically searched the literature to determine the extent of studies that included actions related to the goalkeeper; of 711 titles retrieved, six met the full inclusion criteria...read more
Redefining Shot Placement in the A-League: A goalkeeper centric framework
Peterson, S. W.
Abstract
Performance analysis has become an integral and highly specialised component of professional football, to augment coach decisions at the game, team, group, and individual level (Mackenzie and Cushion 2013). However, an adequate description of the individual tactical level, especially the one-on-one interaction between the attacking striker and goalkeeper (GK) has not been forthcoming...read more
Visualisation and Integration of Tracking and Event Data: A novel analytical tool
Peterson, S. W.
Abstract
Technological advancement has been the catalyst for the automated capture of positional data of individual players, officials, and the ball from live and recorded video footage (Rein and Memmert 2018). Whilst this presents a promising replacement or complement to global positioning systems, it has yet to be rigorously validated...read more
A Preliminary 'Representative' Analysis of Elite Goalkeeping Performance
Peterson, S. W.
Abstract
Creating a training environment tailored to the nature of competition is the hallmark of top flight coaches. However, commonly accepted practice in the football industry currently relies on the coaches intuition and experience for analysis, deconstruction, and anticipation of an upcoming opponents tactics...read more
Services
Performance Analysis
Comprehensive analysis of team and individual performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities and competitive advantages.
Data Strategy
Strategic consulting on data collection, analysis frameworks, and implementation of data-driven decision making processes.
Analytics Tools
Development of custom analytics solutions and dashboards tailored to your team's specific needs and objectives.