The Wobbly Wheel
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About a year ago, I tried explaining to a football coach what it was that BEAST Analytics actually did, and how it was applicable to his players. The following is an analogy that was created during that conversation, and it has become the description that seems to explain it best.
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“Picture yourself in a grocery store with a friend. You both pick a shopping cart. Your friend chooses a cart that works perfectly fine. You happen to pick one that has a wobbly wheel, that shakes and scrapes.
At that point, you both decide to go to the milk section first.  At the time you arrive at the milk section, you have both gotten there in the same amount of time, and you have both covered the same distance.
The difference, though, is that it took you more energy to get there, and it has caused way more stress on your body.”
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Here’s how it is relevant…
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“Picture watching two football players train for the NFL combine. They both are interested in preparing for their 40-yard dash time. Ironically, they are both timed at the exact same 40-yard dash time.
If you know who ran their 40 with less energy expenditure, and/or who ran their 40 with less stress on their body, YOU WOULD KNOW WHO WAS THEORETICALLY MORE EFFICIENT.
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It’s about more than how fast did they get there.
It’s about what did their body endure to get there.
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