The sports industry continued to embrace technology throughout 2022 as the return of many international tournaments and the increasing number of clubs and athletes highlighted the need for more effective and efficient equipment. Here are some of the biggest trends that we’ve seen in sports in 2022.
Data’s place cemented in sports broadcasting
Although data is being used to supplement the reports produced by sports broadcasters, it still hasn’t yet been fully utilized in all of its applications. For instance, we can see the throwing and jumping patterns superimposed on our screens in track and field.
Through data collected by sports broadcasters, they can provide viewers with a deeper understanding of what’s happening during a game. This feature will allow leagues and sports organizations to keep their fans engaged, especially if stadia cannot accommodate all spectators due to the pandemic. However, with more data comes more responsibility, and privacy concerns remain a top issue.
Wearables simplifying data collection
In 2022, we saw the addition of new metrics to the data points wearable technology can provide. These include heart rate variability, blood glucose monitoring, and mood assessments.
The continued rise of data will be most interesting next year as various apps will continue to aggregate data. This will allow them to create a single score for athletes. This will include more sleep metrics as they are able to be easily measured in less invasive ways
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The data collected by wearable technology could also be used to develop younger players into better athletes. It could be used to provide them with benchmarks to aim for in their future careers. From a commercial standpoint, leagues and teams will start sharing this data publicly, allowing fans to see how their heroes perform on the pitch.
Increased concussion awareness
The safety of athletes will continue to be a top priority for all governing bodies and teams. Besides preventing concussions, this issue will also be addressed regarding the spread of diseases.
There is mounting evidence that these types of head impacts have long-term effects. It is also known that small and infrequent impacts to the head, which are known to lead to sub-concussive events, have very serious consequences.
Due to the seriousness of these types of head impacts, many retired athletes are now experiencing dementia-like symptoms. Wearable technology, such as mouthguards made by companies such as HITIQ, can help us understand the extent of these injuries and their frequency.
This technology will help prevent concussions and minimize the number of these injuries in the long run. It will also help implement stricter return-to-play protocols, which will help prevent athletes from returning to dangerous situations. As a whole, wearable technology will allow athletes to be more protected and stay healthy.
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Originally posted on ConnorCroll.net.
