May 12-13, 2025
Science in Soccer Conference
at UNCW Library Discovery Hall
A two-day summit of talks, activities, and workshops
Day 0
The Science in Soccer Conference Sunday Social will occur in the evening locally in Wilmington. Appetizers will be provided. Conversations, good banter, networking, and drinks are on you!
Day 1
SiS Conference begins with a Keynote Speaker, presentations, workshops, panel discussion, and ending with a field session to include all of the disciplines.
Day 2
The SiS Conference will finish off on Tuesday with another great day of Keynote Speaker, presentations, workshops, panel discussions, poster session, Student Research Presentation Competition, and results for the UNCW Data Cup (powered by SciSports)
The goal of the Science in Soccer Conference (SiSC) is to broaden the understanding of science’s impact on our beautiful sport through the lens of an interdisciplinary approach. More specifically, the goal is to comprehend and inform how data sciences and theories impact our decision-making in our field.
The objectives for the SiSC are:
Attract all supporters, participants, and roles in the game to a bridge between academic rigor and practical application.
Highlight experts in the field with their skills and/or their research to share and exchange knowledge with peers at all levels .
Promote student involvement around the world by creating competitions to showcase knowledge and skills for potential employers.
Provide opportunities for basic learning of the data sciences using soccer specific examples during expert led workshops.
Encourage collaboration from various disciplines and different roles in soccer through informal discussion and organic relationships forged together during the conference.
Use the $56M renovation addition to our UNCW Discovery Hall Library to attract our global soccer community to the beautiful beaches and city of Wilmington in the Spring.
The Science in Soccer Conference Program
PRESENTATION SESSIONS
(Proposal Submissions Available)
30-minute classroom presentations delivered by experts in the field (practical or research). This will include 20 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for Question & Answer at the end.
POSTER SESSION
(Proposal Submissions Available)
Poster will be shown over the course of 60 minutes with the author(s) available to answer questions on their research.
FIELD SESSION
(Proposal submissions available)
One Field Session will occur on Monday night. Presenters during the field session will also present before the Field Session (Planning Session) and after the Field Session (Reflection Session). There will be one person in each of the fields contributing to the team (Coach, GK Coach, Sport Performance Coach, Sport Scientist, Performance Analyst, Scout, Sport Psychologist).
PANEL DISCUSSION
(Experts invited)
Experts in the field will be grouped together for open discussion on selected topics of the day with questions from the audience.
WORKSHOPS
(Available for all attendees)
Workshops will be provided for data science for anyone to attend. These workshops are intended to inform all users.
STUDENT [RESEARCH PRESENTATION COMPETITION
(Proposal submissions available)
Students from around the world have a chance to show their work to the soccer community in a competitive way. Students will have a 10-minute presentation with 5 minutes for Question & Answer from the gallery. The gallery will vote to decide the winner.
UNCW DATA CUP (POWERED BY SCISPORTS
(Entries available to all attendees)
One of the most exciting programs to the Science in Soccer Conference will be the Big Data Cup. A data set will be provided to all where the participants can choose how they analyze, visualize and create insights from the data for three separate stakeholders (Manager, Head of Sport Science, General Manager). Participants can turn in their work to one, two, or all of the stakeholder competitions. Experts from the interdisciplinary team will judge the winners.
The Speakers
More to come, but here are some notable speakers...
Graham Mills
The FA
Chris Ducar
UNC
Rade Tanaskovic
UGA & US Soccer
The Venue
UNCW Library, Discovery Hall
520 Kenan Hall Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
Discovery Hall is an expansion to Randall Library by adding a new building increasing the gross square feet to nearly 266,000. The Science in Soccer Conference is taking advantage of the recently opened (August 2024) addition by using the events space with adjacent exhibit area, brand new data Visualization and Analysis Lab, a dedicated and enhance makerspace, recording studio and virtual reality space, and plenty of open space to have collaborate and network with your colleagues or new network.
Important Dates
