Google Launches AI-Powered ‘Footy Skills Lab’ With AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Carlton AFLW player Maddy Prespakis, AFL Head of women's football Nicole Livingstone and Melbourne AFLW player Tayla Harris pose for a photo launching the Google Footy Skills Lab on JULY 08, 2021, Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos)
B&T Magazine
By B&T Magazine



Football fans across Australia will be able to sharpen their AFL skills wherever they are thanks to the launch of Google’s ‘Footy Skills Lab’, developed with support from the AFL and some leading NAB AFLW athletes.

The launch of the platform came as Google and the AFL had teamed up to recognise that every Australian, no matter ability, gender, location, culture or socio-economic status should have access to sport and community participation.

‘Footy Skills Lab’ is a free platform accessible from any smartphone with internet connection, a footy and some space to move. Built with Google’s open-source machine learning software TensorFlow, ‘Footy Skills Lab’ utilises ball detection and ball tracking models to track progress in ball handling, decision making and kicking at three different levels of difficulty. The experience also generates a scorecard that can be shared with friends, family, teammates and coaches.

Footy Skills Lab also offers tips from athletes across the AFLW and AFL Wheelchair competitions, including Melbourne’s Tayla Harris, Carlton’s Madison Prespakis and Richmond’s Akec Makur Chuot through audio prompts and closed captioning, these tips and activities are accessible for people with visual and hearing needs.

AFL General Manager of Women’s Football, Nicole Livingstone said the launch of Google’s ‘Footy Skills Lab’ is another exciting way that the league continues to support emerging talent.

“It is great to see our AFLW stars at the forefront of this technology. Having the Google Footy Skills Lab so accessible will help enhance the performance of the next generation of football talent,” Ms Livingstone said.

Dave Bowman, Creative Chief of Google’s Partner Innovation team shared the excitement in launching the technology.

“Whether you’re practicing on a field, in your backyard or in a wheelchair, we hope Footy Skills Lab brings pro footy coaching closer and helps you sharpen your skills,” Mr Bowman said.

“We’re thrilled to team up with the AFL and AFLW athletes to inspire people in Australia and around the world to get moving, with a little help from AI.”

 




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