Powered by growing fan expectations and a push for equity and sustainability, sports technology is evolving. Major trends include virtual and phygital sports, coaching technologies, innovations for female athletes, smart stadium experiences, and new ways to engage fans. Embracing these technologies is vital for maintaining a competitive edge and supporting athlete wellness.
Wearables, like GPS-tracking vests and devices, are transforming sports training with more precise data on movement, speed, and workload. These tools enable coaches to identify and correct specific weaknesses. They are also helping to manage athlete health by tracking fatigue and sleep patterns. Athlete safety is getting a boost, as well, with the adoption of Guardian Caps and soft-shell helmets that can detect impact forces to reduce concussions. Moreover, the consolidation of wearables with sports tech platforms is streamlining data analysis. For example, Firstbeat Sports aggregates various wearable data into one dashboard to help coaches and medical teams better understand athlete performance and injury risk.
The application of AI to player and team analytics continues to make strides in elite sports leagues, with the National Basketball Association being at the forefront. For example, predictive modeling apps can handle player rotation and timeout timing while predicting when opponents might take big risks. Likewise, computer vision is being used to analyze on-field player movements to automate video analysis and replace time-consuming, potentially biased manual reviews.
Athletes and fans are seeing more personalized sports content, with some companies offering customized highlight reels based on viewer preferences. In addition, manufacturers are integrating smart tech into their equipment. For instance, Adidas and New Balance have integrated sensors into their shoes to adapt cushioning and propulsion based on a foot scan and gait analysis. Other examples of smart integration are a Nike basketball with embedded sensor that tracks shot arc and rotation, or a smart helmet that monitors head impacts.