As the sports industry shifts to attract younger fans, it’s embracing new technology to create unique experiences and deliver a more immersive experience. This includes virtual and phygital sports, emerging coaching technologies, innovations for female athletes and smart stadiums that connect people with the teams they love.
From scouting new talent to optimizing team performance, the latest technologies are transforming sports management processes and empowering coaches and players with data-driven insights to improve skills faster and increase efficiency. For example, scouting tools allow recruiters to visualize how potential teammates will perform on the field, while performance analysis platforms help analyze player statistics and develop customized training programs for a more holistic approach to athlete development.
Meanwhile, sports technology is also enhancing fan experiences and making games more accessible to disabled fans. For example, smart clothing and equipment are allowing people with physical disabilities to track their progress, interact with sports broadcasts and even enjoy immersive virtual reality experiences at home. Smart textiles like digital knitting technology are enabling the incorporation of sensors in sports clothing and footwear that can identify force distribution patterns to prevent injuries, without needing bulky data relay packs.
Accessible and affordable technology is enabling a broader range of clubs to adopt a more comprehensive, data-driven athlete development and management approach. This includes the use of wearables to monitor movement and speed, as well as training load monitoring that compares recent workload to long-term trends, identifying sudden spikes in injury risk that require a quick adjustment or additional rest.