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Deadball Academy Syllabus

Structured sequencing, milestone progression, and capstone expectations for student cohorts.

Progress Milestones

The platform currently tracks completion milestones rather than weighted grades.

  • Complete lessons within each unit.
  • Complete all units within a track (course-equivalent).
  • Pass lesson checkpoints when required before marking completion.
  • Track completion progress in your dashboard.

Badge Progression

The program is designed to award badges as you complete core milestones.

  • Unit Badge: earned when all lessons in a unit are complete.
  • Track Badge: earned when all units in a track are complete.
  • Badge visibility target: quick indicator in navigation plus full display on dashboard/profile views.

Badge awarding is part of the roadmap and is being aligned with existing completion tracking.

Rolling Mastery Timeline

There is no fixed 10-week schedule. Students progress through phases when they meet the entry criteria for the next phase.

Foundations

Geometry, trigonometry, and core ball-flight components + practice loops.

Models & Assumptions

Drag, environment effects, and evidence-based modeling habits.

Visualization & QA

Chart reading, filtering trade-offs, and quality-focused practice.

Capstone Communication

Methodology writing, assumptions + caveats, and capstone deliverables.

Program Tracks At A Glance

High-level outcomes, prerequisites, and assessment focus by track.

Algebra Foundations For Baseball Analytics

Outcomes

  • Translate baseball planning questions into unit-safe expressions and equations.
  • Solve and rearrange linear relationships with verification and feasibility checks.
  • Document QA habits (bounds, estimation, substitution) for staff-facing outputs.

Prerequisites

Arithmetic fluency | Basic algebra | Reading box scores / Statcast fields

Assessment Emphasis

  • Checkpoint quizzes in lessons
  • Summative rubric drafts (Unit 1 alignment pack)
  • Instructor-reviewed memo (pathway B)

Geometry Foundations For Baseball Context

Outcomes

  • Model field and flight geometry with coordinates, distances, and angles.
  • Apply triangle and circle geometry to measurement and scaling problems.
  • Justify geometric claims with explicit assumptions tied to baseball context.

Prerequisites

Algebra I | Coordinate plotting | Intro triangle relationships

Assessment Emphasis

  • Construction exercises
  • Short proof/justification prompts
  • Applied geometry lab

Trigonometry And Precalculus For Baseball Modeling

Outcomes

  • Use trig and vector tools to decompose motion and orientation in baseball models.
  • Interpret periodic and transformed functions as signals in athletic performance data.
  • Prepare for calculus-style rate and optimization reasoning in applied settings.

Prerequisites

Geometry essentials | Algebra II | Function notation

Assessment Emphasis

  • Trig identity checks
  • Vector decomposition tasks
  • Modeling worksheet

Calculus I And II For Baseball Dynamics

Outcomes

  • Compute and interpret derivatives and integrals for motion and accumulation questions.
  • Apply optimization and related rates to constrained baseball decisions.
  • Connect numerical methods to real data when closed forms are unavailable.

Prerequisites

Precalculus / trig | Limits intuition | Intro to derivatives recommended

Assessment Emphasis

  • Derivative/integral drills
  • Optimization scenarios
  • Numerical method notebook

Multivariable Calculus And Differential Equations

Outcomes

  • Work with partial derivatives, gradients, and multivariable constraints in models.
  • Set up and interpret ODE-based dynamic models with stability intuition.
  • Communicate sensitivity and locality assumptions for multivariate analyses.

Prerequisites

Calculus II | Vectors | Basic linear systems

Assessment Emphasis

  • PDE/ODE setup tasks
  • Sensitivity report
  • Integration capstone

Baseball Physics Foundations

Outcomes

  • Derive and validate mechanics-based ball-flight models.
  • Connect geometric and trigonometric structure to measurable game outcomes.
  • Communicate model assumptions and physical limitations with precision.

Prerequisites

Multivariable calculus | Vector algebra | Intro mechanics

Assessment Emphasis

  • Derivation checks
  • Mechanics problem sets
  • Physics capstone memo

Statistical Modeling For Baseball

Outcomes

  • Build, validate, and critique predictive/statistical models for baseball outcomes.
  • Report uncertainty and robustness checks in professor-reviewable form.
  • Separate association claims from causal claims.

Prerequisites

Probability/statistics | Linear algebra basics | Data manipulation fundamentals

Assessment Emphasis

  • Model critique reports
  • Validation dossiers
  • Uncertainty-aware technical memo

Data Analysis With Statcast

Outcomes

  • Construct reproducible data workflows from event-level baseball data.
  • Engineer and validate features without leakage.
  • Produce high-integrity visual analyses tied to explicit questions.

Prerequisites

Python or notebook workflow | Basic SQL or tabular joins | Descriptive statistics

Assessment Emphasis

  • Data QA audits
  • Reproducible pipeline submission
  • Figure recreation project

Environmental Science For Baseball Systems

Outcomes

  • Explain atmospheric and environmental factors that alter ball flight and operations.
  • Analyze climate and weather variability implications for baseball decisions.
  • Connect environmental uncertainty to communication and planning ethics.

Prerequisites

Intro chemistry/physics helpful | Comfort with charts | Algebra-based modeling

Assessment Emphasis

  • Concept checks
  • Scenario analysis brief
  • Ethics reflection

Biological Mechanics Of Baseball

Outcomes

  • Explain how major body systems support baseball-specific demands without clinical diagnosis.
  • Connect muscle physiology vocabulary to observable pitching and hitting actions.
  • Interpret sports-science research questions relevant to workload, sequencing, and performance literacy.

Prerequisites

Intro biology vocabulary (cells, tissues, organs) or willingness to learn it in-lesson | Baseball role literacy (pitcher, hitter, fielder workloads) | Comfort discussing uncertainty and non-medical boundaries

Assessment Emphasis

  • Concept checkpoints in lessons
  • Coach-facing language audit (non-medical boundary)
  • Short reflection tying lab vocabulary to a baseball scenario

Communicating Sports Analytics Insights

Outcomes

  • Translate technical findings into decision-ready narratives.
  • Defend methodology choices under peer review.
  • Deliver capstone-quality written and oral analytical communication.

Prerequisites

At least one completed technical track | Scientific writing fundamentals

Assessment Emphasis

  • Narrative critique
  • Peer-review rubrics
  • Final capstone defense

Capstone Learning Expectations

These are competency targets that demonstrate readiness for advanced analysis and communication.

  • Reproducible analysis notebook or report with clear assumptions.
  • Comparative analysis of at least two seasons or environments.
  • Explicit uncertainty discussion and sensitivity checks.
  • Presentation deck for technical + non-technical audiences.