Sports training has been one of the most arduous works in sports. To non-athletes, the grueling practices and training seem unfathomable. To those working behind the scenes, conditioning and physical training are not the only things that matter. There is a lot of paperwork to do. All the progress of each athlete must be recorded and kept. This is an arduous task but must be done without fail.
But because of technology, this task has been eased a little. It is no longer burdensome and as demanding as it used to be. Advanced technology has greatly changed the way athletes improved and track their performance.
Tracking Performance
Keeping tabs on the performance of the athlete has never been easier with today’s technology. Today trainers can use sensors that track athlete’s performance in real-time. What makes this so convenient is that almost all aspects of the athlete are measurable. This allows trainers to focus on the things that are lacking or needs improvement. In that way, both athletes and trainers can adjust their training programs accordingly.
Before the use of GPS and lasers in athletic training, measuring acceleration, distance, and overall performance of an athlete was done manually. This has helped in identifying areas that need improvement for the athlete. This proves to have significantly improved the performance of the athlete.
Sports technology has advanced in the past few years and has greatly contributed to a lot of athlete’s performances. As such, sports have become more competitive with athletes’ superb performances. Mounir Zok, the director of Technology and Innovation for the U.S. Olympic Commission, even notes that technology has paved the way in creating a formula in sports. This is all taken in good stride as technology has improved athlete’s performances by identifying key areas that need work and improvement.
Examples of Using Technology in Sports
In cycling, heads-up display (HUD) glasses help cyclists know their speed and heart rate just by wearing them while cycling. Because of this breakthrough, it is easier to monitor metrics and statistics. Data provided by this technology identifies the aspects that every cyclist must focus on to improve their performance.
Swimmers also make use of sensors to identify the areas for improvement. Such use of technology in their practices allows them to see the bigger picture and map out where there’s work to be done. Hydrodynamics, movement, angling, and speed are just some of the factors that are measured using sensors.
For sports that rely on the fluidity of motion, such as martial arts, capturing the motion is essential in analyzing one’s performance. Video recordings are great, but with today’s technology, capturing 3-D recordings is now made possible. 3-D recordings yield better captures and more accurate data regarding a martial artist’s movement. Precision and data accuracy are what 3-D motion capture affords many athletes and trainers who rely on repetitive movements.
In baseball, there are also technological breakthroughs that aid in athlete’s development. Aside from motion capture and sensors, they can utilize gadgets such as sports radar guns that measure speed and acceleration. Another useful training paraphernalia is speed pitch cages. Whether you are a baseball player or a hockey player, this is beneficial for your everyday training. You’ll be able to gauge where you need to improve and work on it as soon as possible. These are just some examples of technology use in sports and how it has helped improve performances.
Data and Analytics in Sports
With technology, sports are slowly becoming more data-driven. As such, data analysis has become a crucial part of determining success and winning a championship for any sport. Through motion capture and other videos of a team or individual, analytics software can identify undervalued players, which can affect any game if dealt with right. It can also give lots of teams the upper hand by determining how they can come up with plays that utilize these undervalued players. The result has been great for most teams. One example is the Lincoln City football team that powers through to many adversities and emerges on top of their league standing. This result can also be seen in different sports.
Because of many wearable devices, video and motion capture, and even advanced equipment, data in sport will only boom in the near future. Keeping track of data and analyzing this is now becoming the norm. This allows lots of teams and players the chance to continuously evolve and be better in their chosen fields.
