At Davidson College, data doesn’t just live in spreadsheets — it fuels performance across every sport. From the football field to the basketball court, and even the field hockey pitch, Davidson’s athletes wear PlayerData technology to ensure every practice, sprint, and recovery session is optimized for peak performance.

“We’re very fortunate here at Davidson,” said Davidson Athletics Head of Strength and Conditioning, Evan Simon. “Our men’s soccer, field hockey, both basketball programs, and our football program all utilize PlayerData. It’s been a great partner for us — it takes the guesswork out of the training process.”

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TURNING INTUITION INTO INSIGHT

The Davidson performance staff doesn’t just collect numbers — they translate them into smarter, safer training. PlayerData’s system tracks total distance, sprint yardage, acceleration, deceleration, and force output — metrics that allow coaches to understand not only how much athletes move, but how they move.

“When we talk about generating and receiving force,” Simon explained, “we’re looking at how athletes drive through the ground and how they absorb impact. PlayerData shows us both sides of that — the accels and decels — so we can evaluate the power and efficiency behind every step.”

By monitoring acceleration and deceleration patterns, Davidson coaches can identify when players are nearing physical limits — and adjust accordingly. The result? Better conditioning, reduced injury risk, and athletes who enter competition ready to perform at their best.

“Sport is all about being able to handle stress — through the forces we create, the forces we take on, and the things we’re asked to do.” - Coach Simon

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THE GOLDILOCKS PRINCIPLE OF PERFORMANCE

While Davidson’s data-driven approach is highly technical, its guiding philosophy is surprisingly simple — balance.

“When we look at off-season training, we can go back and review what was collected in games and practices,” Simon said. “That way, we’re not doing too much or too little. We can sit there and be like Goldilocks — eat just the right amount of porridge, sit in the right-sized chair, and sleep in the right-sized bed.”

“We can sit there and be like Goldilocks — not doing too much, not doing too little — just the right amount.”

This “Goldilocks zone” of training ensures every athlete hits the sweet spot between undertraining and overload. By tailoring conditioning intensity and volume to match PlayerData’s metrics, Davidson staff prepare bodies for the exact demands of game day — no more, no less.

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ONE PLATFORM, EVERY PROGRAM

What makes Davidson stand out is how seamlessly PlayerData integrates across its entire athletic department. Football may log more total mileage, while basketball emphasizes jumps and short bursts, but every program uses the same foundation of insight.

“Whether it’s football, soccer, basketball, or field hockey — we all see similar metrics,” said Coach Simon. “PlayerData lets us apply those numbers to our specific intent — the way we play, the tempo we keep, and the kind of athletes we want to develop.”

From live-tracking during practices to workload comparisons between games and conditioning sessions, Davidson’s staff uses PlayerData to fine-tune preparation, recovery, and substitution patterns in real time. That cross-sport consistency builds a unified performance culture grounded in measurable progress and accountability.

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TAKING THE GUESSWORK OUT OF GREATNESS

Ultimately, Davidson’s use of PlayerData goes beyond performance—it’s about clarity.
Every rep, sprint, and session now has purpose backed by data.

“PlayerData allows you to elevate the type of coach you are,” Simon concluded. “It takes the guesswork out. You know the answers to the test—and all you’re doing is applying them to your preparation process every day.”

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