7 Ways How Technology Enhances the Sports Industry

It’s no secret that innovative and modern technology is revolutionizing every industry. In sports, some sufficient digital tools and gadgets are helping athletes perform better. They range from data analysis tools to injury prevention technologies. And coaches, trainers, and fans feel the ripple effect of these developments.

Here are the top 7 ways technology is changing sports:

1.    Data Analysis for Better Technique

Advanced technology gathering and analyzing key metrics and statistics for improving players’ performance. We now have software for recording video footage, tracking the player positions, visualizing their placements, and generating statistical reports.  In turn, coaches and players work with sports analysts to use these data in formulating gameplay scenarios and gain insight into their strengths and weaknesses.

Here are some data and analysis applications in various sports:

• Soccer – Soccer clubs rely on data analytics to make off-the-field decisions about making passes, dribbles, and interceptions
• Baseball – MLB players rely on data analytics to calculate their batting average, on-base percentages, and slugging averages.
• Basketball – Basketball team managers rely on data analytics to evaluate the players. Moreover, the NBA employs sports data analysts to assist coaches in identifying undervalued players and advise on the best strategies for optimal field performance.
• Athletics – Athletes use velocity-based training devices to identify weaknesses and improve their running techniques

2.    Wearable Sports Technologies

Wearable technologies enable athletes to capture real-time data about their performance on the field. These gadgets have in-built micro sensors to measure the athlete’s movements hundreds of times per second at one or more parts of their bodies. By the end of the practice or competition, players get a detailed visual of how they move, including the distance, speed, playing position, and style at different times. The raw data is analyzed and interpreted to improve performance and mitigate the risk of injury.

Mass production of wearables has also enabled brands such as Micheal Korrs to manufacture smaller, fashionable, and readily available wearable devices for anyone and everyone who wants to work on their fitness.

3.    Improved Athletes Safety

There has been tremendous improvement in athletes’ safety over the last few decades, courtesy of evolving sports technologies. Today most elite sports are driven by data that helps athletes prepare mentally and make them recover faster. Here is a list of the ways technology is making sports safer:

• Data-Driven Training – Heart rate monitors and fitness trackers to monitor their heart rates, calories burned, and sleep patterns. These metrics are vital in improving performance and maintaining a healthy training routine.

• Mental Preparation – Athletes use virtual reality technologies to simulate tournaments and prepare mentally for upcoming competitions. The simulations allow athletes to train for the expected field and weather conditions in the comfort of their home, gym, or club grounds. They overcome the stress and anxiety of the unknown.
• Fast Recovery – Players can use the latest technologies to recover faster from strenuous workouts. For example, they can wear compression boots or be in cryotherapy chambers to suppress inflammation. Plus, they use VBT devices to assess their abilities and readiness for an upcoming game. Other technologies like massage guns and force plates help players tailor their recovery programs and align them with proper nutrition.
• Injury Prevention – We now have motion analysis software to identify anomalies in a player’s physique and form. These technologies send warning signals anytime the player is working out excessively or inappropriately and suggest the necessary adjustments to prevent injuries.

   4. Training Teams Using Virtual Reality

Another notable technology transforming the industry is virtual reality. This technology allows individuals to enter lifelike 3D world scenarios where they can simulate real action events as if they would happen in reality. They can also interact with their environment to create realistic situations to practice how to stay focused while surrounded by disturbance. With VR training videos, players are able to recap each scenario over and over again in virtual reality. This is also a plus for coaches as they can train athletes from whatever location in the world.

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With new developments emerging every day, we expect more platforms to make VR sports more accessible, secure, and personalized.

4.    Tapping Into the Power of Social Media

If you are an active member at your local gym or sports club, you can connect with your fellow trainers, elite players, and fans via a secure social media platform. Here, you engage in meaningful conversations to compare your performance, get valuable tips, and adjust your current goals accordingly.

5.    Wide Sports Coverage and Improved Communication

Sports analysts rely on the latest information to prepare their commentaries. They scrutinize available data to gain in-depth knowledge about players, upcoming games, clubs, and governing bodies.

Also, sports technologies facilitate collaboration between players, trainers, and coaches, on and off the field. Cloud-based sports software like LeagueRepublic and TeamSnap allow teams, clubs, and leagues to collaborate on their training plans, workout schedules, rosters, and registrations. That way, team leaders ensure everyone is at par in working towards a common goal.

6.    Fairness

From time immemorial, the human factor has been known to interfere with sports and influence the final scores. Well, not anymore. Today, technology bypasses human input in review systems to prevent intentional or unintentional data tampering in favor of a particular team. For example, The Virtual Assitant Referee helps officiate soccer games alongside referees to keep the outcomes accurate and neutral.

Bottom line

Rapid technology advancements are revolutionizing sports in more ways than we can imagine. Gone are the days when in-depth sports data analytics was a preserve of elite players. Today, anyone can access various technologies to monitor their workouts, train safely, and collaborate with others to improve their performance. And coaches and trainers rely on technology to make faster, more accurate decisions impacting their teams and clubs.