10 Ways Technology Revolutionized Sports
When you think of athletes and sports teams, ‘advanced technology’ doesn’t typically come to mind. We seem to believe that the blood, sweat and tears involved in professional sports are antithetical to cold and clinical data. Yet the integration of technology with sports is becoming more commonplace and is helping to improve many aspects of athletics. In this article, we’ll explore 10 ways technology is revolutionizing how athletes prepare for and how audiences consume sports.
1. Live streams
Thanks to digital streaming technology, sports fans can watch games from anywhere in the world on almost any device with an internet connection. Streaming provides more ways to view your favorite teams and a greater variety of games to consume.
Major sports broadcasters connect to large and geographically diverse networks to ensure audiences around the world enjoy instant, low-latency streaming. This gives fans a better experience and mitigates the risk of them seeing the score on social media before their device has a chance to catch up.
2. Online ticket sales
Purchasing tickets for a game online is significantly easier than lining up to buy them in person. Managing sales online enables teams to target customers and sell tickets through several channels such as websites, social media, emails or apps. This omnichannel approach doubles as an effective marketing tool and provides customers with a quick and easy way to purchase tickets.
3. Track athlete performance
“Smart clothing” is worn by athletes to measure and track performance in real-time using small sensors in the garments. These sensors can monitor almost anything, including hydration, breathing, temperature and heart rate. This data enables trainers to tailor a program specifically for that athlete to improve performance and mitigate the risk of injury.
4. Improved communication
Platforms like YouTube are often used by trainers to improve communication during training. Trainers can record and upload educational videos discussing various techniques, plays and athletes that players can watch during practice or in their own time. My Fitness Pal is another digital application that can help athletes record their diets and exercise routines. This enables trainers to keep track of their progress and holds athletes accountable for their training.
5. Preventing injuries
In addition to the applications mentioned above, training management software can be used to mitigate the risk of injury. By tracking performance, improving communication and perfecting athletic form, athletes and trainers can prevent fatigue and avoidable injuries.
6. Athletes more connected to fans
The admiration of audiences can significantly bolster an athlete’s career, and social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram can help build the relationship between players and their fans. A positive example of this was when NBA star, Dwight Howard, tweeted his location so fans could come and meet him. The afternoon was a resounding success and illustrated how meaningful it is to fans when their favorite athletes invest time in them.
7. Scouting talent
Data on how athletes perform (i.e. how fast they run, how accurate they can pass the ball etc.) has transformed the scouting process. Scouting for new talent used to be based on instincts and how a player performed on a certain day. Now, technology has taken the guesswork out of scouting and enabled trainers and managers to cultivate teams with athletes they know can perform.
8. Prevents cheating
Performance-enhancing drugs have been a hotly contested topic in athletics for decades. Athletes who take these drugs have an unfair advantage over other players and create an insidious form of cheating. Sophisticated testing technology has helped eradicate the use of performance-enhancing drugs, making the game fairer for athletes across all sports.
9. Instant replay
Instant replay is a crucial technological advancement that has significantly improved athletics. Replay is integral to many major sports such as football, soccer, basketball and baseball, keeping the game accurate and fair. The ability to rewatch and correct a call by a referee has improved the experience of athletes and spectators, ensuring that the team that deserves to win actually wins.
10. Fantasy sports
Let’s end on a fun one. Fantasy sports is an online game where users create a virtual team using real-life players of a particular sport. Players look at the performance statistics of real-life athletes to inform who they select for their team; choosing players with better stats in real life gives you an advantage in the game.
Yes, it’s a bit silly, but it’s a billion-dollar industry that fans take very seriously. Back in the day, fans had to wait until the day after the game to look at the stats and update their teams accordingly. Now they have second-by-second updates, making the game more exciting for viewers and increasing audience engagement.
So, how can Cloudscene help?
Cloudscene is a free digital procurement platform that helps network buyers search, find and connect with telecom providers anywhere in the world. Sports teams and broadcasters can use the platform to source a faster internet connection, set up training management software or establish edge data centers to provide instant live streaming for fans in other countries.
Cloudscene helps buyers find network solutions such as rack colocation, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity, ethernet, dark fibre, wavelength, IP transit and internet access.
. All your business has to do is outline your requirements, time frames and budgets so that we can connect you with a provider that meets your specific needs.
If you’d like to learn more about the platform, get in touch with our friendly team so we can kickstart your procurement journey today.
