![[Feature Image] A sports statistician reviews sports analytics and data visualizations before making a presentation about team performance.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6pBKFuBhCwXbesogVQC4V9/1099425d49e94a8358b0699255777964/GettyImages-1418357382.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
What Is a Sports Statistician? And How to Become One
Learn about the growing field of sports analytics as you explore the career of a sports statistician helping players and sports organizations grow.
March 18, 2025
Article
Data analytics is the collection, transformation, and organization of data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision making. Learn more about data analytics and career opportunities with these resources.

Discover courses in data analytics

Skills you'll gain: Data Wrangling, Big Data, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Data Cleansing, Apache Hadoop, Apache Hive, Data Processing, Data Mart, Data Science, Data Warehousing, Apache Spark, Data Visualization, Data Lakes, Data Collection, Data Visualization Software, Microsoft Excel
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Rmarkdown, Dashboard, Data Visualization, Data Cleansing, Analytical Skills, Stakeholder Management, Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Interviewing Skills, Ggplot2, Data Validation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Spreadsheet Software, Google Sheets, Data Integrity, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Structures, Applicant Tracking Systems
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Data Wrangling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Model Evaluation, Data Analysis, Predictive Modeling, Data Pipelines, Data Import/Export, Regression Analysis, Data Science, Pandas (Python Package), Data Manipulation, Predictive Analytics, Data Cleansing, Statistical Analysis, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Data Preprocessing, Matplotlib, Data Visualization, Scatter Plots, Python Programming
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
In today's data-driven world, professionals skilled in data analytics are in high demand across many industries. A career in this fast-growing field provides opportunities to use technical skills to drive meaningful business impact. Explore the diverse career paths, essential skills, and job types within data analytics to start your journey in this exciting and rewarding domain.
Interested in data analytics? Find out more about what a data analyst does and popular data analytics certifications.
Interested in Python? Read about foundational Python concepts, and explore the differences between Python and R programming.
Interested in business intelligence? Dive into business intelligence analytics and popular business intelligence certifications in the field.
Ready to start learning? Explore our catalog of data analytics, Python, and business analytics courses for beginners and experienced professionals.
Yes, a master’s degree in data analytics can be worth it—depending on your goals and your resources. Advanced degrees in this subject can lead to higher salaries, diverse career opportunities, advanced knowledge and skill sets, and exciting networking opportunities, among other benefits.
Beginning data analysts should ensure they have a solid technical understanding of Structured Query Language (SQL), Microsoft Excel, and R or Python. Additionally, they should be able to think critically, present confidently, and tell their data's story visually. Read more about these and other key data analyst skills.
The time it takes to develop the skills you need to get a job as a data analyst will depend on what you already know, your strategy for learning new skills, and the role you're applying for. But it might take less time than you think. It's possible to learn the skills you need for an entry-level role as a data analyst in approximately 64 hours of learning, according to Coursera's 2025 Global Skills Report. Earning your Google Data Analytics or IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate in less than six months is possible.