The Player Progression Academy’s Post

Today is National Soccer Day! The Beautiful Game is becoming more popular than ever in the United States, ranking in the top five favorite sports for Americans. Infinite Athlete is building the tech to power one of the most popular sports in the world, to change the game for teams, athletes, and fans. How are you celebrating National Soccer Day today?

The Crossroads League has five of the top 13 teams ranked nationally for offensive efficiency in NAIA Men's Basketball. (Of a total of 231 teams) The top 5 Crossroad League teams include: Huntington University, Grace College & Seminary, University of Saint Francis, Marian University Indianapolis, and Indiana Wesleyan University Comparing the top 5 Crossroads League teams with national NAIA team averages: all teams had similar number of possessions (83), free throw rate (13%/12%) and number of three point field goals per game (8/7.4). The major differences included: Points per game, Points per Possession, EFG%, 2 point fg's made, % of possessions scored, and turnover %. (DATA SOURCED FROM SYNERGY SPORTS 2024)

The Crossroads League has five of the top 13 teams ranked nationally for offensive efficiency in NAIA Men's Basketball. (Of a total of 231 teams) The top 5 Crossroad League teams include: Huntington University, Grace College & Seminary, University of Saint Francis, Marian University Indianapolis, and Indiana Wesleyan University. Comparing the top 5 Crossroads League teams with national NAIA team averages: all teams had similar number of possessions (83), free throw rate (13%/12%) and number of three point field goals per game (8/7.4). The major differences included: Points per game, Points per Possession, EFG%, 2 point fg's made, % of possessions scored, and turnover %. (DATA SOURCED FROM SYNERGY SPORTS 2024)

Player development is crucial for the National Soccer League (NSL). Despite soccer's growth in the U.S., elite opportunities for young talent remain scarce. While MLS has boosted visibility, the odds of an American player reaching it are about 1 in a million. The NSL aims to change this by providing a more accessible pathway from grassroots to professional play, identifying and nurturing overlooked talent. Involving top-level coaches and scouts, the NSL will offer trials to assess technical skills, physical attributes, and mental toughness. Successful participants will transition from amateurs to professionals. To build its profile, the NSL will feature these trials in a documentary series, showcasing the personal journeys of potential stars. By expanding opportunities, the NSL aims to strengthen American soccer culture, build a stronger national team, and become a cornerstone of the sport in the U.S https://lnkd.in/eH_7xx5m

Did you know? Throughout the lottery era, only four of the 39 players chosen first overall have won National Basketball Association (NBA) championships with the team that originally drafted them. Professional sports leagues rely on the draft to create parity, but the true impact often depends on the structure and execution. Understanding the nuances can be the difference between sustained competitiveness and long-term imbalance. Part 4 of our series exploring the implications of various competitive balance systems in professional sports. Today, we break down the Draft System. #SportsBusiness #SportsGovernance #CompetitiveBalance #SportsManagement

This is interesting as eSports has been gaining popularity and legitimacy as a sports field over the last decade. How we view sportsmanship and competitiveness changes as our engagement with spectacle and spectating changes.

Lawrence J. Taylor Jr., or "LT," is a driving force in Arizona basketball, shaping the next generation of athletes through elite training, team ownership, coaching, and community basketball events. His deep experience not only influences the local community but also strengthens the development of players at every level. The No Backboard Basketball League (NBBL) objective is to impact global basketball development in the same way #futsal has for soccer—creating elite athletes by enhancing their skills in innovative ways. Futsal’s unique style of play has contributed to the rise of many of the world’s top soccer players, including more than a dozen Football Hall of Famers. NBBL aims to do the same for basketball. For a deep dive into how futsal has transformed soccer and what this means for No Backboard Basketball’s potential to develop future stars, check out our article: No Backboard Basketball League: Futsal’s History Points to No Backboard Basketball’s Potential: https://lnkd.in/gvm3J2gm #nobackboard #nobackboards #basketball #gamechanger #changethegame

BIG viewership for 3 years straight - "For the third consecutive season, Big Ten regular season women's basketball and the TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament were the most watched in Big Ten Network history." 🙌 Read the article to learn more: ⬇