Dear Applicant,
Thanks for your interest in Sports Analysis Inc.! As you may know, we are a small consulting firm that serves athletes
of all types who are wishing to improve their performance. During a consultation, we take data of the individual performing
his/her sport, analyze the data, and then offer recommendations. We have earned a reputation in the sports world for consistently
improving our clients’ times, in part because we hire the best people.
We have an opening for a collaborative team of sports analysts. Before we consider hiring you and your colleagues we would
like you to show us what you know. Accompanying this letter, you will find three sets of data gathered from clients that we
have served in the past.
We have data from Frank Fleetfeet, a sprinter. You will see information for the first 40 meters of his 60 meter dash. He
consulted us to see where in the race he should put most of his efforts.
Next is Petra Pedalpusher, a track cyclist. We have data on her start of the "kilometer". Since the kilometer is an event
where you must use only one gear, Petra was consulting us as to whether she was using a gear that was too high, or to low,
or just right for maintaining an average speed of 50 km/h.
Finally, we have Sara Swimsswift, who was working on her times in the 50-yard freestyle. She wasn’t sure if she should
push off of the wall and glide for a long time, then start her stroke, or start the stroke earlier.
Using this data, we invite you to do the following:
1) Represent the data so that it is easier to interpret.
2) Determine what kinds of information you can glean from the data.
3) Use that information to make deductions about the motion of the athlete.
4) Suggest some strategies to the various athletes to improve their performance.
Obviously, the more information you can get, and the more detailed you can be in describing the motion, the better –
and the greater likelihood of you becoming part of our fine organization.
If we see that you can take initiative, go that extra mile in analyzing the data, and do so accurately, then your team
will be a shoo-in for the job. The next step after that will be to assign an athlete to your team (either a runner, swimmer,
or biker) so that you can start taking and analyzing your own client’s data.
To be considered for the job, you will need to have a finished analysis of this data by
Dear Applicant Group,
Considering you are new to the business we were impressed with your analysis of Frank, Petra, and Sarah. From that initial
analysis we believe your group has some definite potential in the industry. To prove you are worthy of being a sports consultant
group we would like to assign you a new client. We expect you will meet with this client and collect data on them. We would
like you to analyze the data and provide the client with suggestions for improvement. We will expect a report of this analysis
submitted to us by the close of business on Tuesday Sept 28th. We also expect you will present your findings to our hiring
panel the following day Wednesday Sept. 29th.
Here are our expectations of your report
1. A thorough analysis of TWO different data runs including:
All collected data for each run
Logical arguments for removing any "bad" data points
Displacement vs time graphs of your data including:
Analysis of the motion (i.e. linear, parabolic & constant velocity, acceleration)
A trend line
The average velocity of your client as compared to some instantaneous velocities
A linear function interpreting the trend line of your client
A mathematical prediction of how long it would take your client to run races of Olympic lengths (i.e. 50m, 400m, or other
Olympic lengths of your choosing)
2. Suggestions to your client about how he/she can improve that:
Seem consistent and are supported by the data
Seem achievable by your client
Here are our expectations of your presentation
No longer than 15 minutes
Briefly introduce your client
Summarize the most important highlights of your analysis and support it with evidence
Summarize the most important suggestions for improvement and support it with evidence
Looking forward to your report and presentation,
Sports Analysis Inc.
Dear Applicant Group,
Your client contacted us and told us that he/she was challenged by two other athletes: Snide Steve and Cheat'n Chad. We
looked into our records and discovered old data we have on these two athletes. You can find this data in a memo we forwarded
you. We would like you to use the data and compare it to your client's data. Please add this comparison to your report and
your presentation. We still expect the report to be submitted by the close of business on Tuesday Sept. 28th and your presentations
on Wednesday Sept. 29th.
Here's what you should add to your report
1. An analysis of each competitor including:
Displacement vs time graphs with a trend line
The competitor's average velocity
An explanation of the linear function for the competitor
2. An analysis of how your client compares to each competitor including:
A graph of your client vs the competitor
A prediction of where your client and the competitor would pass each other
A prediction of the minimum/maximum head start you could give Chad such that your client still wins
A prediction of the minimum/maximum wait time you could give Steve such that your client still wins
Here are our complete expectations for your presentation
No longer than 15 minutes
Briefly introduce your client
Summarize the analysis of your client and support it with evidence
Summarize the suggestions for your client and support them with evidence
Summarize how your client compares to Chad and support it with evidence
Summarize how your client compares to Steve and support it with evidence
Looking forward to your report and presentation,
Sports Analysis Inc.
*THIS WAS A LETTER TO INTRODUCE THE COMPETITORS WHO WERE UNFAIR AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE HAD TO DO TO MAKE
OUR CLIENT BEAT THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNFAIR COMPETITORS.
