In 2021, the inaugural list of sports technology trends included innovations addressing short-term challenges like maintaining player fitness while minimizing physical risk during the pandemic and engaging fans during lockdowns. Since then, a host of new technologies have emerged to make the athlete and fan experience more effective and immersive. Some, such as smart helmets and augmented reality (AR), are enhancing player safety. Others, such as training and scouting systems, are improving athlete performance metrics and efficiency. Embracing these advancements is critical for anyone involved in the sports industry.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are revolutionizing the athlete and spectator experience by transporting fans to immersive environments while streamlining the analysis of real-time data. For instance, VR enables athletes to practice in game-like scenarios without the risk of injury, while AR overlays can provide real-time stats and data on top of live action.
Combined with other sports tech trends, this new approach to training is accelerating athletic development and reducing injuries. For example, training load monitoring compares recent workouts to long-term trends so coaches can detect and respond to spikes in fatigue or injury risk – keeping players healthy and on the field.
In addition, the consolidation of wearables with sports tech platforms streamlines data analysis. For instance, Firstbeat Sports integrates multiple wearables into a single platform to enable coaches and medical teams to make better decisions about player readiness and workload management. In addition, virtual reality training is catching up to traditional physical training by providing an immersive way to improve decision-making and muscle memory while staying safe from injury.