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Sports History - HISTORY

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The history of sports is the history of power, politics and progress. From ancient origins to groundbreaking firsts: Sometimes sports makes history, sometimes

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Technology in Sports (topendsports.com)

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The world of sport is continually changing over the years, and the use of technology is just one of those areas that has made an impact on many sports in the modern day. See the annual sports technology awards for the latest technology ideas in the world of sport.

Making changes to a sport, with the inclusion of new technologies, has often caused controversy. One criticism of the use of technology is that it can slow down the speed of the game, but on the other hand for many people it makes watching it more enjoyable to see the correct decisions being made. If a new technology is available, and shown to be accurate, then it should be used so that the correct decisions can be made. It is only fair to the players and teams that the right decisions are made.

Assisting the Umpires / Referees

Most professional sports in the United States have long used instant replay and other high-tech aids to help referees make the right call. Gridiron has used video replay systems to check referees' calls for many years. Basketball referees use replay systems to make sure players are shooting within the time allotted by the shot clock. In international cricket, the third umpire has been used, one sitting off the ground with access to TV replays of certain situations (such as disputed catches and boundaries) to advise the central umpires. The umpires out on the field are in communication via wireless technology with the other umpire. The third umpire is also asked to adjudicate on run out decisions, which he makes without consultation with the two central umpires. One sport that has resisted the use of high-tech assistance until very recently is soccer/football. Replays could be used to decide off-side decisions, whether a ball passes over the goal line, and clarify penalty decisions.

Hawk-Eye Technology

Hawk-eye is the name of a computer and camera system which traces a ball's trajectory. It is being used in international cricket and tennis, and many other sports are also looking at making use of this technology. The system is also being trialled in soccer as part of the goal line assessment. The Premier League of Football in the UK has agreed to the introduction of goal-line sensors after being given approval by football's rule-makers. The system being developed by the UK company Hawk-Eye, would give a definitive decision on whether the ball had crossed the line. The Hawk Eye uses a camera taking 600 frames a second on the goal-line, with the information is analyzed by computer and sent to the referee's headset or a device on his wrist. In 2015, Hawkeye technology was also used by rugby officials at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, to improve decision-making by the television match official (TMO) and also assist with player safety. In this case it is enhanced video review, rather than the ball tracking technology as used in other sports. The 2020 US Open tennis implemented the next level Hawk-Eye Live, which made line calls in real time.

Sport Specific

Tennis - it is now standard at the major tennis tournaments for a line review system to be in place, with players given power to review contentious line calls. It is powered by the Hawk-Eye ball tracking system. See more about Hawk Eye for Tennis

Soccer / Football - Soccer is looking at joining the 21st century, looking at various technologies for the goal line to determine if the pass passes over the line or not. See more about Football/Soccer Technology

Basketball - the NBA uses replay vision to review 'last touch' decisions in the final two minutes of games, and also to determine whether players release the ball before the shot clock expires.

Cricket - technology in cricket has been driven by advances in the TV coverage. Things that were once extra information provided by the TV networks are now being incorporated into the decision referral system (DRS), such as hawk-eye and hot spot, and maybe even the old favorite snicko. See more about Cricket Technology.

Aussie Rules Football - umpire review system has also been implemented in AFL, with an off field umpire in certain circumstances adjudicating on whether the ball passes over the goal line or is touched, using video evidence via multiple camera angles. See more about Technology in AFL.

Baseball - In 2014 a challenge system was put in place for the MLB to use replays to challenge certain umpiring decisions. See more about Technology in Baseball.

Cross-Country Skiing - There have been large advances in the sport of cross-country skiing, particularly with equipment design. See more about Technology in Cross-Country Skiing.

Rugby Union - In 2015, Hawkeye technology was used by rugby officials at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The video review technology with synchronised camera views was used to improve decision-making by the television match official (TMO) and also used by medical staff to assist with player safety by identifying possible concussion instances and behind play incidents.

Rugby League - The NRL was an early implementer of using the video referee to help adjudicate questionable tries.

Computer Software

There are numerous software packages that are designed for fitness and nutrition professionals to organize data and produce reports, ideal for visitors to this site. Here are a couple of packages that come recommended by Topend Sports.

Team Beep Test - the most versatile and useful software for conducting and recording results of the bleep / beep test, with results recorded directly onto your computer.

BodyByte - a universal standalone computer software program specially developed to comprehensively organize and manage all the information associated with nutrition, training and fitness.

Related Pages

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The world of sport is continually changing over the years, and the use of technology is just one of those areas that has made an impact on many sports in the modern day. See the annual sports technology awards for the latest technology ideas in the world of sport.

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What Is The Impact of Technology on Sports Today? (metapress.com)

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Technology is all over the world. It is obvious that technology is responsible for making some if not most of our everyday activities that much easier and pleasant. Industries around the world relive and thrive on the advances that technology can offer them in order to be able to do their jobs better, benefitting themselves and customers around the world. The sports industry as many others can speak of the wonders that technology has given them in order to be on point with today's demands. From the instant replay to even something as simple as that little yellow line sports betting fans see in their football games marking the first down line technology has helped sports grow in many positive ways. Here are some of the most important ways technology has impacted sports today.

Athlete's Conditions Have Changed Greatly

Technology came into the sports world to become one of the main helpers to allow athletes both amateur and professional to find out what might be wrong with any part of their game and fix it. If there's any doubt of how much technology can help improve sports just look up any episode of the Sports Science series. While athletes are not one for taking part in science experiments on a daily basis, the different factors coined in to offer a better analysis of sports, like video reviewing and projections are used more and more by athletes daily to do their job better. If there's a way in which technology can help athletes take better care of themselves, be it nutritional programs, working out routines and others, it only makes technology that much of an important piece in today's sports industry.

Also, before if any team was interested in picking up a new player for their squad, the scouting process was one based more on instincts and feelings than actual precise facts. And while yes, the shear talent of being able to spot talent on the spot is still one that's revered by teams all over, player scouts are now in a whole different world. Now, thanks to technological precision, teams have entire information sheets and reports on potential players, from how high they can jump, how fast they can run, their ball skills, physical health on, basically everything they need to know in order to avoid busts on hand immediately.

Making The Sports Better For Fans

Oh man, if there is one person that has benefitted from technology coming into the sports industry and making a sure fire splash it's the sports fanatic. The simple fact that a fan of any team can just hop into the internet and be a click away from being able to interact with their favorite teams and athletes, knowing the latest news, stats, and previews shows what can probably be the most important effect of technology in sports. One can even argue that it is the internet that has fully been responsible for the globalization of sports. Now it doesn't matter where you are at, if you have an internet connection you are able to find whatever you may want to know about your favorite sporting teams and events.

On another hand with ticket prices to sporting events not being at all fans' reach, watching games at home and striving to make that the best experience available has seen technology become a key player. Latest generation home entertainment systems with enormous 50-plus inch tv's at the helm are a basic staple for any sports fan's home. Thanks to high definition systems fans who can't be at the game physically can feel like they're at the game from the comfort of their home.

Finally the option for fans to participate in such activities as fantasy leagues, sports video games and even online betting are just some of the many ways technology has come to make sports better.

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What Is The Impact of Technology on Sports Today?

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Technology is all over the world. It is obvious that technology is responsible for making some if not most of our everyday activities that much easier and pleasant. Industries around the world relive and thrive on the advances that technology can offer them in order to be able to do their jobs better, benefitting themselves and customers around the world.

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Is Technology Ruining Sport? (synapse.com)

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It's certainly not one of the most damaging controversies to strike the Olympics in recent years, but it still made the headlines when British sliders, who had rarely troubled the podium this season, started setting the fastest times in practice of the bob skeleton. Other teams quickly credited this to their newly revealed skin suits, designed to be as aerodynamic as possible and allowing them to outperform the other teams.

Whether or not this skinsuit was really the key to Britain picking up half the available medals in the bob skeleton events, it certainly stirred up strong feelings in their competitors, who appealed and had the officials check the legality of this new technology.

The skinsuit worn by Lizzy Yarnold (David Davies/PA Images)

The Price-Tag of Tech

Now this isn't the only example of technology being used in the Olympics to try and improve athletes' performances. With every country looking to find an advantage on the biggest stage, technology is just one of many factors teams are looking to optimize.

Team USA has used everything from virtual reality, to help their skiers train and get to know the Pyeongchang slopes; to 3D printing the molds for laying up the carbon fibre structures for their luges. Unfortunately, these technological advancements aren't something that the smaller nations can afford, and this is where the questions start over how much of an effect technology has on the outcome of an event.

"Can winning margins be credited to technology?"

Can winning margins in some of these events be credited to differences in the technology available to the athletes competing? For some countries the level of the technology available is the least of their worries, with the Jamaican bobsleigh team nearly arriving at the start line without a sled of any description.

Finding the Win with Data

Looking to the future in sports technology, development will continue apace, competing to give athletes an edge. However, this isn't the only application for technology in sport. Advances in technology have already been implemented to aid the officiating and judging of sports. Seeing Olympic medals being awarded on judges' decisions makes me think there must be a better way, where human bias can be removed. Given the evolution of AI, could systems use machine learning to identify characteristics that judges are looking for, and quantify them? The volume of data to train the algorithm is available, in the form of thousands of hours of video of athletes performing, along with the received scores. Would we finally be able to objectively judge the performance of athletes in these sports?

Returning to athletes and coaches, data analytics stand out as the most significant way in which they are going to benefit from technology in the next few years. The huge amounts of data collected on athletes' performances, from wearable devices, video and other tools, are prime candidates for artificial intelligence to provide greater insight. Relating training loads and methods to competition performance will allow for the continued optimization of training programs and techniques, as well as competition strategies. This could be even more insightful in sports where equipment and conditions have an influence on the outcome, where the AI system could select the optimum equipment set-up for a given set of environmental conditions.

An Uneven Playing Field

As an engineer, I find it fascinating to see all the ways in which technology is being used to optimize the way athletes recover, train and race. My dream projects involve working closely with elite athletes to produce technology that works for them and helps them reach new levels of performance.

However, as a sports person, I want to see the best athletes win out, not limited by the technology available to them. This doesn't mean I don't want to see technological advances in sport - otherwise we'd all still be using narrow wooden skis and bicycles with no gears!

Is technology ruining sport? It certainly isn't making for a level playing field, but it's helping athletes go faster, further, and higher than ever before, making viewing even more spectacular for those of us who could only dream of doing what the athletes do.

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It's certainly not one of the most damaging controversies to strike the Olympics in recent years, but it still made the headlines when British sliders, who had rarely troubled the podium this season, started setting the fastest times in practice of the bob skeleton.

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How Technology is Revolutionizing Sports Training | Ohio University

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In the past, sports training required extensive paperwork and post-practice effort from both the trainer and the athlete. While the athlete practiced, notes and video were diligently taken and then collated into charts and graphs representing that athlete's performance. After practice, trainer and athlete would work together discussing aches, pains, and thoughts about physical movements that happened much earlier. The system was grueling, but worked as far as athletes and trainers knew. That is until recent technology transformed the field of sports training.

Advanced technology has become smaller, more resilient, and less burdensome over recent years, paving the way for new opportunities, especially in athletics. Now athletes wear sensors that convey real-time information to a trainer's tablet, GPS accurately pinpoints motion, smartphones keep everyone current and wearable tech can prevent injuries. Compared to whiteboards and post-practice reviews, technology has substantially increased athletic potential.

Technology is revolutionizing sports training by live-tracking performances, perfecting athletic movements, enhancing communication and virtually eliminating injuries.

Tracking Performance

Using sensors placed on the body or in "smart clothing" (active wear with sensing fibers woven in), sports trainers can measure and track performance in real time. Almost anything about the athlete can be measured, from breathing and heart rate, to hydration and temperature.

These live metrics can help the trainer determine what aspects each athlete needs to focus on more. Athletes are unique, and real-time individual performance measurements can set a more precise and accurate baseline. During practice, trainers can read live metrics and decide when it's time to rest, stretch or train harder.

Lasers and GPS have been incorporated into various aspects of the sports training world. Instead of relying on times and splits, trainers can measure the exact position, distance, velocity and acceleration of athletes to better understand where they can improve. Identifying more intricate data leads to improved performance with less stress and chance for injury.

Perfecting Athletic Movements

Mounir Zok, the Director of Technology and Innovation for the U.S. Olympic Commission, has watched technology change and mold sports for the better. He claims that sports technology is so advanced that it can create a 'digital code' for winning the gold medal. What he means is: data collected and compared can ultimately translate into a gold medal performance. Technology has increased an athlete's prowess simply because it magnifies performance-related actions and events that have been previously unseen.

For example, cyclists can wear heads-up display (HUD) glasses that flawlessly deliver heartrate, speed, incline and other relevant cycling information. Metrics such as these can help the cyclist focus and improve because they can make adjustments mid ride.

Swimmers and divers participate in an extremely technical sport and have adapted sensors into their practices as well. When swimming or diving, the sensors measure more than the usual time and effort metrics. They map movements like rotational speed, dive angle, leg movement and hydrodynamics. Observing movements like this is groundbreaking, and allows trainers to help athletes perfect their movements. They may only shave milliseconds off their performance, but a millisecond in a race can be all the difference.

Enhancing Communication

Applications such as YouTube have also enhanced communication during training. Countless hours of workouts and game plays can be found by anyone and shared just as quickly through YouTube. To bolster education through watching film or discussing plays, athletes and trainers can upload and watch the necessary videos during practice or on their own time.

Communication has been further enhanced by other applications such as My Fitness Pal, a personal digital health, diet and exercise journal that can be accessed on a smartphone or computer. Trainers can keep track of athletes by checking their daily diet via My Fitness Pal, and athletes will have personal accountability to their training. It's similar to a social media site except that it's specific to exercise and athletes, coaches and trainers can interact with their input health information.

Eliminating Injuries

Perhaps the most important byproduct of technology in sports training is that injuries have been severely reduced and now can be identified much earlier. Tracking performance, perfecting movements and enhancing communication are not only benefits; they actually help create less injury-prone environments.

Training management software can assist coaches and trainers in monitoring all aspects of training: diet, energy, sleep, etc. When coaches and trainers can define individual practice for optimum results, they are preventing fatigue and self-created injuries. Besides outside variables that cannot be accounted for, the future may some day see injury-free athletics.

About Ohio University's Online Master of Athletic Administration Degree

Ohio University's online MAA program is designed to teach professionals how to manage the many changes in interscholastic sports. The university launched the nation's first academic program in sports administration in 1966 and continues to be a leader in sports business education.

Ohio University's online MAA program is housed within the university's College of Business, underscoring the university's dedication to providing world-class sports business education.

The program works in collaboration with the National Intercollegiate Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) to prepare graduates for certification and is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). For more information, contact an enrollment advisor at Ohio University.

Sources:

Cloud Technology is a Game Changer for Athlete Training and Health
From the Olympics to the NFL the Future of Training is Wearable Tech
My Fitness Pal

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How Technology is Revolutionizing Sports Training | Ohio University

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In the past, sports training required extensive paperwork and post-practice effort from both the trainer and the athlete. While the athlete practiced, notes and video were diligently taken and then collated into charts and graphs representing that athlete's performance. After practice, trainer and athlete would work together discussing aches, pains, and thoughts about physical movements that happened much earlier.