STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT REVIEW PAPER

ROLE OF AI IN SPORTS RECRUITMENT

Horodyski1 (2023) examines the used of Artificial Intelligence technologies extensively in the
field of recruitment within a number of industries. The intelligent capabilities of artificial
technologies that facilitate autonomous functioning acts as a differentiating factor, and
provides them with an additional layer of prominence as compared to regular information
technology tools. Therefore, AI is an essential element to the 3 rd digital recruitment
revolution. The author by surveying HR professionals from a plethora of fields aimed at
understanding the perception of recruiters and selectors on AI technologies. Primarily, The
Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, which includes four key factors of
performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions was
utilised. The study was conducted via a web-based survey with 238 participants from various
countries showed that performance expectancy played a vital role with regard to intention of
selectors. Fine-tuned AI showed significant benefits in terms of increase in efficiency, cost-
cutting, and productivity. It enables the selection of well-qualified candidates and makes
workload more manageable. However, biased, out-dated, and non-inclusive data pools pose a
considerable disadvantage.

Alwai, Naureen, Hadad2 (2021) discuss the important role played by artificial intelligence
technologies in recruitment and selection in the general context. With traditional recruitment
processes, a number of issues such as screening of a large number of applications, slot
allotment, etc… arise. Artificial intelligence technologies help optimise this process. They
offer services such as vacancy prediction, targeted advertisements, CV screening that
ameliorate productivity and save time and human capital. The use of AI specifically for
recruitment and selection purposes is not widely prevalent, and is not a definite replacement
to traditional recruitment. In its current stage it acts as an aid to the formal introductory stage,
and interviews to assess fit and motivation remain retained. Therefore, while artificial
intelligence is a promising prospect in the future of recruitment, there remain certain
disadvantaged that need to be solved to facilitate wider adoption.

Yan3 (2022) in analysing the importance of AI in the sports industry discusses its prevalence
in recruitment. Teams have long relied on instinct, experience and practice to establish
themselves in the industry. However, with developments in technology, artificial intelligence
has revolutionised the way teams compete, train and engage with fans. The author while
exploring the various facets of the relationship between sports and artificial intelligence
recognises the ethical considerations that may arise moving forward. The timeline indicates
that tools such as data analysis and stimulation in the 2000s that facilitated enhanced
performance processing and provision of virtual training environments, and wearable
technologies and biometrics in 2010s that facilitated data collection on performance in real-
time marked the beginning of use of such technologies in the sports industry, specifically
with reference to recruitment. Data Analytics systems enable teams to make informed and
swift recruitment decisions, improvising overall team management. One such ethical
1
Horodyski, P., 2023. Recruiter's perception of artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools in recruitment. Computers
in Human Behavior Reports, 10, p.100298.
2
Al-Alawi, A.I., Naureen, M., AlAlawi, E.I. and Al-Hadad, A.A.N., 2021, December. The Role of Artificial
Intelligence in Recruitment Process Decision-Making. In 2021 International Conference on Decision Aid
Sciences and Application (DASA)(pp. 197-203). IEEE.
3
YAN, C., 2022. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Sports. International Journal of Sports, Yoga and
Physical Activity, ISSN: 3005-5083, 1(1), pp.8-14.
consideration that proves to be disadvantageous for recruitment and scouting through AI is
the inherent presence of bias due to the historical nature of data. Addressing this challenge is
of utmost importance.

Gibbons4 (2023) through their project demonstrate the current scenario in discussion with the
help of the practical example of Major League Baseball players. With the help of artificial
intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, scouting reports are generated based
on various metrics that in the belief of the chatbot are the best representation for their skills.
The authors operating on the hypothesis that the scouting records created by industry
professionals would outshine that of the chatbots. The study used two players from Major
League Baseball, Anthony Rizzo, a first baseman, and Adam Cimber, a relief pitcher, both
have been chosen at random. While each chatbot had its own drawbacks mainly in terms of
prompt engineering, the analysis provided when used could be extremely beneficial for
scouters. The chatbot was able to formulate its own metrics to evaluate each player, and such
metrics provided for a fresh perspective on the abilities of the players. Moreover, the
technologies were able to rank each player as against the other players in the league. This
process when done successfully saves time and makes evaluation of players for recruitment a
highly efficient and effective process.

Demel5 (2022) examines player recruitment in sports such as Football and Cricket, as they
require specific players for specific conditions. Data analytics done via artificial intelligence
technologies facilitates major sports teams and organisations to make more informed
decisions with regard to team constitution, and consequently improve their performance.
Wearable Technologies give team insights into factors such as running speed, heart rate are
crucial aspects to determining the stamina and ability of a player. They enable coaches to
obtain logical results in player skills. This when coupled with a requisite machine learning
model is of great advantage to the team. Match Data allows teams to analyse strategies, and
performance of players over a period of time. Data Tracking allows for the assessment of
minute details, and provides a digital representation of all players throughout the pitch.
Therefore, when sports involve factors such as playing conditions in terms of weather and
pitch, opponent etc... clustering algorithms identify better suited players for certain
conditions. It both allows for teams to sign a team players and choose specific players for
specific matches.

Torre, Calvet, Lopez, Juan6 (2022) in their study discuss the vital role played by data analysis
and other data driven methods in recruitment of talented young players by professional teams.
Therefore, most professional teams are now employing data scientists in assisting their
managers with data intensive methods and techniques that best showcase their abilities and
future performance. There has been a significant shift in the methods employed, from use of
expert opinions to use of systemic data. However, there are certain ethical considerations that
arise in the process. The HR departments have yet to transition to data-driven culture, and
such data must be used and governed in a transparent manner. Use of machine learning and
deep learning methods contribute to the operational and business growth of the enterprise. A

4
Gibbons, P., 2023. AI Scouts In Baseball: How AI can potentially revolutionize scouting in professional
baseball.
5
Demel, J.R., Application of Artificial Intelligence in Sports to Increase Team and Player
Performance. International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science, 4.
6
De la Torre, R., Calvet, L.O., Lopez-Lopez, D., Juan, A.A. and Hatami, S., 2022. Business Analytics in Sport
Talent Acquisition: Methods, Experiences, and Open Research Opportunities. International Journal of Business
Analytics (IJBAN), 9(1), pp.1-20.
multi-faceted approach that is inclusive of factors beyond expected performance should be
taken to talent acquisition.

Scophino7 (2021) in recognising the crucial role played by athlete recruitment in the league’s
playing level opines that neural networks are an important tool for such processes. With the
introduction of drafts, i.e., selection of promising young players to teams in advance, the role
of artificial intelligence in player acquisition is growing by the minute. Artificial Neural
Networks aim at replicating the way neurons work in a human brain. The data is organised,
and enables for pattern prediction. Studies show that by predicting the performance of the
players, and then ranking them on the basis of such predictions is a vital part of draft picking.
However, neural networks cannot absolutely take over such a process, they are most efficient
when done in consonance with human experience and selection. They still require input of
organised, quantifiable data, and accurate training. Moreover, factors such as team spirit and
player chemistry, which are largely subjective in nature, and cannot be accurately predicted
by data driven methods still remain challenges. This calls for further research and
development of the technology.

Mosele8(2018) - The traditional talent acquisition process was long and tedious, often
involving a group of scouts that had to attend a large number of matches, organise such data,
and later compare data against the other prospective candidates. Digital innovation made such
a process much easier, and comparatively efficient. With the advent of professional scouting
platforms like Scisport and Sap, there are thousands of statistics that were aggregated
systemically and could be accessed with ease. The performance of the players was organised
into categories such as physical, technical, tactical, and cognitive, enabling recruiters to
narrow down their options and pick a talent that best suited their needs. These talent scouting
companies are dedicated to scouting that is supported by machine learning. Through machine
learning algorithms, talent acquisition can be done through recognition of undervalued
players, influence of players on team results, inverse processes and various other pertinent
factors. A number of start-ups, like Wallabies, and Player Rank are aimed to develop AI
systems dedicated to scouting, player investment evaluation and optimization. Therefore, this
can prove to be quite lucrative even from an entrepreneur point of view.

Brady, Tuyls, Omidshafiei9 (2021) highlight the importance of early identification of talent.
When players are recruited toward the beginning of their careers in can result in profits worth
millions of dollars with regard to development, and subsequent trading. Data obtained during
the process of identification, recruitment, retention, development, and exit of the players
comprises of the full cycle of their player experience and talent management. Such data when
analysed through machine learning allows for updates when and wherever required during
this cycle, and automates the talent identification process. Such tactics allowed for the
Commercial sports market in the United Sate alone, before the pandemic, to be estimated at
$80 billion. Around the world, the number maybe closer the the $200 billion range. The
process of talent acquisition is not limited to player recruitment alone, future managers too
can be scouted using similar processes and that information can be transferred and applied in
corporate HR functions.

7
Scopinho, T., 2021. Artificial neural networks on recruiting athletes. STEM Fellowship Journal, 6(1), pp.76-80.
8
MOSELE, J., 2018. Artificial intelligence in the sport industry.
9
Brady, C., Tuyls, K. and Omidshafiei, S., 2021. AI for Sports. CRC Press.
Pavitt, Braines, Tomsett10 (2021) analyze the use of various artificial intelligence tools such
as natural language processing and conversational interfaces in making expert analytics more
comprehensive and effective regarding unstructured and structured data respectively. There is
a large thread on data in elite sports, however, capitalization of such datasets is made
challenging due to inadequacy of time and large varieties of data. The primary decision
makers in such a process involve coaches and recruiters, but they rarely have a thorough
understanding of artificial intelligence. Therefore, cooperation between such key people and
data scientists is the need of the hour. Thus, the authors conclude by proposing for a hybrid
Human-AI system that has a beneficial combination of the positive factors of both human
insight, and automated analysis.

10
Pavitt, J., Braines, D. and Tomsett, R., 2021. Cognitive analysis in sports: Supporting match analysis and
scouting through artificial intelligence. Applied AI Letters, 2(1), p.e21.