The scoretable officials keep track of two main statistics:
-The score.
-The fouls that have been called However, there are many other aspects of the game that can be recorded, and which adds great interest an excitement for the fans and also for the players. These additional statistics also help coaches to review the performance of their teams. Common statistics are:
-The number of shots taken and from where they were taken.
-Rebounds (when a player catches the ball after a missed shot)
-Assists (when a player passes the ball to a teammate who scores)
– Steals (when a player gains possession from an opponent)
-Turnovers (when a player loses possession of the ball) The role of the statistician is to record all aspects of the game, which is now usually done on a computer, tablet, or smartphone or manually with a paper template.
Stats:
Full statistics are not taken in most local competitions, but they are in more elite competitions. The effective recording of statistics usually requires at least two people. One to “call” the game by commentating every event which requires statistical recording and the other to “record” the game by making the statistical entries and following the caller’s instructions. When statistics are collected using a computer it means that fans can follow the game even if they are not able to attend.
Statistician Pathways: A statistician does not have to have played basketball and training will explain the various statistics that are kept. Then, it is a matter of watching games and getting to understand what an “assist” or a “turnover” etc. Often, two statistics will be recorded from the one event. For example, a turnover by an offensive player may also be a steal for the defensive player.
There are some local competitions that do statistics on a competition; however, anyone can get involved by attending a statistics course which is usually arranged by the state associations. Once you have level 1 accreditation you can participate in state competitions and from there can progress to Australian Junior Championship events, the National Wheelchair Leagues, the Women’s National League (WNBL), the Men’s National Basketball League (NBL) and onto international games hosted in Australia.Why become a statistician?Some people really enjoy the recording and analysis of data, and it gives them a different insight into the game. Other people may simply want to stay involved in thegame after they have played, coached, or officiated at a high level. The reasons for becoming a statistician are many and varied and like refereeing and scoretable it can be an incredibly rewarding way to be a part of the basketball community!
