Global landscape of sports statistics: Initial census of researchers and academics in the field

The field of sports statistics has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, fueled by increasing academic publications, specialized journals, and global initiatives. However, identifying and mapping researchers in this domain remains a complex search problem due to the vast and dispersed nature of scientific research. To address this challenge, we conducted the first global census of researchers and academics in sports statistics, applying structured methodologies to extract relevant profiles from the immense set of scientific researchers worldwide. A total of 274 researchers across 31 countries were initially identified through a structured multi-stage search strategy, updated through December 2025; after survey-based validation, 259 were confirmed for the final census, yielding a response rate of 48.91% (n = 134) and a final dataset of 110 detailed researcher profiles. Clustering analysis using the KAMILA method revealed three distinct researcher profiles: (1) younger researchers blending academia and industry expertise; (2) senior academics pioneering the field of sports statistics; and (3) researchers specializing in sports science and exercise medicine with high citation metrics. This census highlights the predominance of researchers from countries such as the United States (22.48%), Italy (15.12%), and Canada (7.75%). Beyond these descriptive findings, the study provides a structured and updatable framework for understanding the global academic landscape of sports statistics. The census is publicly accessible through an interactive R Shiny application ( https://www.grbio.eu/pubs/sports-stats-census/ ), enabling continuous updates and open access for the research community.