Teaching Statistics with Sports Examples

Class material for introductory and advanced statistics can be colorfully illustrated by using appropriate data and examples from sports. Specific methods, including statistical graphics (e.g., boxplots), ball-and-urn probabilities, and statistical regression are demonstrated. Examples are drawn from popular American sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and American football. Classroom feedback indicates that that most students enjoy sports examples as a way to learn abstract concepts using familiar, recreational settings.