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Sports Analytics Department

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Grades 6-860-75 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Students turn a stack of real sports data, like shooting percentages or sprint times, into a clear, testable idea a coach could really use. It is a perfect project for a sports fan who likes stats.

Budget levels

Amazon prices checked Oct 9-10, 2026 and may change

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only.

$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

  • tape measureBorrow or school hasuse what you have
  • school device with slow-motion recording (ball only, no faces) or stopwatchBorrow or school hasuse what you have
  • kitchen scaleBorrow or school hasuse what you have

Full Experience

Required materials for the class.

$51.49 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups). Exceeds $25 per class.

Classroom cardboard or boxes can lower the cost.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

  • Rubber band launcherRequired1 x 0.5 lb assorted + 1 x 100 sticks0.5 lb assorted + 100 sticks$6.10 + $4.99AmazonAmazon
  • spring or luggage scaleRequired1 x 1 scale1 scale$9.99Amazon
  • washers and tapeRequired1 x 270 pieces + 1 x 2 rolls270 pieces + 2 rolls$6.28 + $5.58AmazonAmazon
  • ballsRequired1 x 28 balls + 1 x 1 can (ball count not shown on page)28 balls + 1 can (ball count not shown on page)$6.99 + $3.59AmazonAmazon
  • carpet sampleRequired1 x 8x8 in sample (count per pack not shown)8x8 in sample (count per pack not shown)$7.97Amazon

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, with every optional item included.

$51.49 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Materials

Sports performance data (collected or provided); Graph paper or a chart; Rubber band launcher; spring or luggage scale; washers and tape; balls; tape measure; school device with slow-motion recording (ball only, no faces) or stopwatch; kitchen scale; carpet sample

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

  • Graph paper pad

    Graph paper or a chart

    Shop

  • Tape measure

    tape measure

    Shop

  • Kitchen scale

    kitchen scale

    Shop

Steps

  1. Pick a sport move (a soccer pass, basketball bounce pass, or a hockey puck shot) and predict how a harder push and a heavier ball change how fast the ball speeds up.
  2. Draw a force diagram of the ball at launch showing the push forward and friction backward (with gravity and the floor balancing), and explain why the sum of the forces sets how the motion changes.
  3. Plan the investigation as a team: write a testable question, the independent variables (push force, then mass), the dependent variable (speed over the first 2 meters, from a school-device slow-motion recording of the ball only, or stopwatch timing between tape marks), the controls (same surface, launcher, ball size, and distance), and how only one variable changes at a time. Choose your own stretch lengths and washer loads (at least three levels each) and the number of trials, and write a numbered step-by-step procedure (release method, recording or timing setup, how speed is measured) and a data table. The teacher approves the plan.
  4. Build a rubber band launcher that pushes the ball along a flat floor. Measure the force at each stretch length you chose by pulling the band with a spring scale or luggage scale, and weigh each washer load on the kitchen scale.
  5. Run the tests following your approved procedure. For example: Test 1, same ball at three stretch lengths; Test 2, same stretch length with three different washer loads taped on; Test 3, same ball and stretch on a smooth floor versus carpet to change the opposing force; at least three trials each.
  6. Use the frame counts or stopwatch times to calculate speed and record all data in your table. Graph speed versus force and speed versus mass.
  7. Find an outlier, work out why it happened (a slipped release, a bump on the floor), fix the procedure, and rerun that trial.
  8. Write a conclusion stating how the change in speed depends on the sum of the forces and on the mass, citing each graph, then present one specific, testable coaching recommendation and explain what new data would prove it right or wrong.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · MS-PS2-2

    Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.