In a significant move that promises to transform volleyball analytics, Hudl, a global leader in sports technology, has completed the acquisition of Balltime, an innovative AI-driven sports technology startup. This strategic partnership represents a pivotal moment in sports performance analysis, particularly for volleyball teams and athletes at all levels.
The Technology Revolution in Volleyball
Bridging the Technology Gap
Volleyball has long been a sport where performance insights were challenging to capture quickly and comprehensively. Traditional methods of video analysis and statistical tracking were time-consuming and often incomplete. Balltime’s breakthrough technology and Hudl’s extensive sports technology experience are set to change this paradigm completely.
Meet the Innovators
Hudl: A Global Sports Technology Leader
- Serves over 400,000 volleyball users worldwide
- Operates in 79 countries
- Comprehensive sports technology platform
- Provides video and data solutions for teams from youth leagues to professional levels
Balltime: AI-Powered Sports Analytics
- Founded in 2022
- Specializes in volleyball video and analytics technology
- Serves over 12,000 indoor and beach volleyball teams
- Supports more than 125,000 athletes
- Partnerships with Division I colleges and LOVB professional league
Technological Capabilities: What This Merger Means for Athletes and Coaches
Unprecedented Data Access
The combined technology will provide volleyball teams with:
- Instant match and practice data analysis
- Automated statistical tracking
- Advanced performance metrics including:
- Serve speed measurements
- Attack height calculations
- Jump height analytics
- 3D play visualizations
Key Performance Insights
- Data available within minutes of completing a match
- Comprehensive athlete performance profiles
- Enhanced recruitment tools
- Detailed practice and match preparation resources
The AI Advantage
Balltime’s founders, Tom Raz (CTO) and Dan Banon (CEO), built their technology with a deep understanding of volleyball’s unique challenges. “As a player myself, I set out to solve my own pain points in the sport,” Raz explained. This player-centric approach has been fundamental to their technological development.
Numbers That Tell a Story
Hudl’s Current Volleyball Ecosystem
- 27,000 volleyball organizations served
- 40,000 high schools, clubs, college, and national teams using solutions
- Nearly 500,000 volleyball matches analyzed in 2024
Balltime’s Impact
- 12,000 indoor and beach volleyball teams
- 125,000 athletes supported
- Partnerships with top-tier volleyball organizations
Leadership Perspectives
Strategic Vision
“We’re combining strengths to give volleyball teams a faster, more complete understanding of their team and player data,” said Greg Nelson, Hudl’s Senior Vice President. This statement encapsulates the merger’s primary objective: democratizing advanced sports analytics.
Tarryn Moss, Hudl’s Market Director, emphasized the transformative potential: “By combining Hudl’s deep sports technology experience with Balltime’s AI expertise, we’re transforming our volleyball offerings, bringing faster analysis tools to athletes at every level.”
The Future of Sports Analytics
This acquisition represents more than a corporate merger—it’s a glimpse into the future of sports performance analysis. Key trends emerging from this partnership include:
- AI-Driven Performance Tracking
- Automated data collection
- Real-time performance insights
- Comprehensive athlete profiling
- Democratization of Advanced Analytics
- Making sophisticated technology accessible
- Supporting teams at all levels
- Reducing technological and financial barriers
- Personalized Athletic Development
- Detailed individual performance metrics
- Targeted improvement strategies
- Enhanced recruitment opportunities
Implications for Athletes and Coaches
For Athletes
- Precise performance tracking
- Data-driven improvement strategies
- Enhanced visibility for recruitment
For Coaches
- Instant match and practice analysis
- Comprehensive team performance insights
- More effective training methodologies
Conclusion: A New Era in Volleyball Technology
The Hudl-Balltime merger represents a significant milestone in sports technology. By combining AI-powered analytics with comprehensive video solutions, they are not just changing how volleyball is analyzed—they are reimagining the entire performance optimization process.
As technology continues to evolve, partnerships like these will play a crucial role in pushing the boundaries of athletic performance, making advanced analytics accessible to athletes and teams at every level.
The future of volleyball is data-driven, and that future starts now.
ABOUT HUDL
Hudl empowers more than 300,000 teams globally to reach their potential, working with coaches, athletes, and administrators at every level of sport. We equip teams with tools and insights to elevate performance, streamline operations, drive recruitment and deepen fan engagement. Our smart cameras capture every second of practices and games, powering the industry’s ecosystem of film review, recruiting, scouting and more. Our trusted software layers data and analytics onto video to help athletes and teams reach their potential. And our platform helps every team create a stronger connection to their fans through livestreaming, athlete highlights, tickets, and updates on all the information fans care about. Learn more at Hudl.com.
ABOUT BALLTIME
Balltime is the next generation video and analytics platform for volleyball, entirely powered by AI. Created by volleyball players, our mission is to democratize access to pro level video and analytics tools and to help athletes in the recruiting process. Individual families, high schools, youth clubs, and collegiate programs use Balltime’s platform to easily break down film, view stats and analytics, and create highlight videos to power their recruiting journeys.
Via: Business Wire
