You may have noticed that technology has caused a big change in the world of sports. Advanced analytics, player performance data and player movement are just some elements we regularly track and analyze in sports today.

Most of this data is available thanks to wearable technology. These cutting-edge devices, seamlessly integrated into athletes’ gear, allow teams to track everything, from vital signs to performance metrics.

Beyond the apparent competitive advantage, wearables help with injury prevention, early intervention and finely tuned training regimens.

How do these devices work, and what are they used for? More importantly, how are they impacting our favorite sports?

Keep reading to discover the history, present and future of wearable technology in sports and its key benefits.

A review of wearable technology in sports

Let’s examine the core concepts and ideas that can help us understand the world of wearable devices in sports better.

Key concepts and opportunities

When discussing wearable technology in sports, we must understand a few foundational concepts: biomechanics analysis, real-time performance monitoring, and health tracking.

Let’s simplify these complex topics and explain them in simple terms.

• Biomechanics analysis: This refers to wearable sensors that give us a precise overview of athletes’ movements, offering insights into body mechanics, posture, and joint dynamics. It revolutionizes how we approach skill development, allowing precision in refining techniques and competitive strategies. VR training sessions are becoming popular in biomechanics.
• Real-time athletic performance monitoring: One of wearable tech’s most significant competitive advantages is tracking an athlete’s every move in real time. It opens a treasure trove of data, from heart rate variability to acceleration on the field. It empowers coaches to make instant, data-driven decisions, fostering a dynamic and responsive training environment.
• Health tracking: Wearables extend beyond performance metrics to include health monitoring features. These devices track vital signs, providing a holistic view of an athlete’s physical condition. Understanding factors like fatigue and recovery provides significant biometric data and becomes instrumental in crafting personalized training plans.
• Coach-to-player communication: One of the most important concepts regarding wearable devices in sports. Using real-time insights, coaches can provide tailored guidance to athletes, which can help with training and game performance. It is most notable in the NFL, although it’s now becoming more significant in other sports.

These key concepts help us understand the need for wearable tech in competitive sports and the data we can collect. The key takeaways should be injury prevention, personalized training, and better strategic planning.

Let’s delve into more details and explore the available devices.

The hardware and software of wearable technology in sports

Wearable technology in sports operates on a three-layered structure: sensor, processing and communication.

Source: MDPI

In the sensor layer, physiological sensors such as electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography (ECG), and electroencephalography (EEG) play a crucial role in capturing biometric data on muscle activity, heart health, and brain activity.

Biomechanics sensors like inertial measurement units (IMUs) use accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to track motion. IMUs have significant applications, including swimming and posture analysis.

Moving to the processing layer, we have built-in microcontrollers or processors that handle tasks like heart rate monitoring and step counting. These units vary from basic microcontrollers to advanced ones with machine-learning capabilities and single-board computers.

Finally, we have the communication layer, in which Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Zigbee technologies facilitate data transmission. This layer, known as fog computing, supports more intricate data processing. For advanced services or complex operations, data moves to cloud-based services via cloud computing, linking WT to high-capacity servers.

The role of wearable technology in sport kinematics and kinetics

Wearable devices equipped with accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers help us understand how athletes move and the forces acting upon them during physical activities. This understanding of kinematics (motion) and kinetics (forces) brings many benefits to the world of sports.

Source: BYJU’S

In kinematics, wearables provide a detailed perspective on the range, speed, and coordination of athletes’ movements. For example, accelerometers track changes in velocity, while gyroscopes monitor angular rotation. 

Together, they offer insights into the fluidity and precision of motions. This level of detail is invaluable for athletes and coaches, creating a deeper understanding of technique, form and potential areas for improvement.

On the kinetics front, wearables go beyond capturing motion to analyze the forces exerted during different activities. Force sensors integrated into wearable devices measure the impact of ground reaction forces, providing information about the stresses on joints, muscles, and bones. 

It helps evaluate the efficiency and biomechanical aspects of movements, assisting athletes to optimize their techniques to reduce the risk of injuries and improve overall performance.

Use cases and real-life examples of wearable technology in sports

How do professional athletes and coaches use wearable tech? Here are several crucial objectives a wearable device can help you accomplish.

1. Tracking health indicators

Wearable technology plays a pivotal role in tracking athletes’ health indicators. Physiological sensors, like ECG and EMG, provide real-time data on heart rate, body temperature, muscle activity, and overall well-being. This information aids personalized health assessments, enabling timely interventions and tailored training programs.

2. Monitoring sports performance

Biomechanics sensors can capture intricate details of athletes’ movements, offering insights into technique, agility and more. This real-time feedback enhances training precision and allows coaches to refine strategies based on individual performance data.

3. Controlling athletes in the weight room

Wearable devices extend their influence to the weight room, where athletes’ strength and conditioning are crucial. 

By integrating sensors and IMUs into workout gear, coaches can monitor athletes’ exertion levels, track repetitions and ensure proper form. This data-driven approach promotes injury prevention, optimizes training loads, and fosters effective strength development.

4. Coach-to-player communication

Wearable technology facilitates seamless communication between coaches and players. Smart devices with communication features enable real-time feedback during training sessions or competitions. 

Coaches can provide immediate insights, corrections, or strategic guidance, fostering a dynamic and responsive training environment for athletes.

At GoRout, we specialize in providing cutting-edge coach-to-player communication solutions. 

Our devices are designed by coaches, for coaches.

As leaders in the market, we offer wearable communication devices available for football, softball, and baseball teams, and aim to broaden our reach by venturing into other sports soon.

Our wearable technology streamlines communication between coaches and athletes during practices and games. By making communication more efficient and effective, our electronic pitch calling system help teams improve their overall performance.

So far, we have developed:

1. Football practice solution and on-field practice app
2. Football in-game solution (coming in 2024)
3. Baseball and softball pitch-calling devices, on-field coaches app and player device 

What makes GoRout different?

The GoRout coach app and player devices can communicate seamlessly through GoRout Air™, a system based on radio airwaves powered by a national infrastructure. 

It means that you do not need to have a Wi-Fi internet connection or worry about syncing or wasting time on routers or any setup. 

With GoRout, you can enjoy a reliable technology that provides the most efficient way to transfer and send real-time play data on the field without disruptions.

Here are some additional advantages:

• GoRout, a state-of-the-art system, meets compliance for in-game use in college, high school baseball, and college softball.
• The system ensures secure communication by fully encrypting all calls, safeguarding sensitive information from sender to receiver.
• GoRout is adaptable to various weather conditions, providing a reliable performance regardless of high heat, humidity, snow, rain, or other environmental factors.
• You can customize your GoRout experience, adjusting packages to meet your specific needs, whether scaling up or down.
• Each GoRout device is backed by a comprehensive 100% full-coverage warranty, protecting against breakage and ensuring confidence in system usage.
• Our team boasts extensive experience, having been present in the coach’s office, locker room, and on the field. This firsthand knowledge enables us to address teams’ unique needs and challenges, emphasizing a commitment to a seamless, intuitive, and user-friendly system.

Experience the GoRout wearable devices firsthand. 

Connect with us to get a quote and increase your chances of winning!

Sign the NCAA petition for in-game wearable technology in sports. 

Benefits of wearable technology in sports

Wearable technology in sports brings plenty of benefits, revolutionizing training methodologies and athlete well-being.

1. Injury mitigation and prevention

Wearables play a pivotal role in mitigating and preventing injuries. Real-time monitoring of athletes’ biomechanics through sensors like IMUs helps in several ways. 

For example, fitness coaches and medical staff can identify movement irregularities that may lead to injuries.

Coaches and sports professionals can then use this data to implement targeted interventions, adjusting training regimens to address potential risks as soon as possible. It shifts the focus from reactive to proactive in sports medicine.

Injury prevention is critical for athletes, especially those in college and professional sports due to longer seasons and higher stakes.

2. Encouragement to monitor physical health

One of the notable advantages of wearable technology is its role in encouraging athletes to monitor their physical health actively.

Devices with physiological sensors, such as heart rate monitors and GPS (global positioning system) trackers, empower athletes to track their performance metrics. 

How do they move? How do they progress in the gym? All these are relevant questions that can help players achieve peak physical health.

It fosters a culture of responsibility and allows individuals to make informed decisions about their training intensity, recovery, and overall health. 

As a result, athletes become more attuned to their bodies, enhancing long-term well-being.

3. Improved training efficiency and reduced injury risk

Wearables contribute to enhanced training efficiency and a reduced risk of injuries. The real-time feedback these devices provide enables coaches to tailor training programs based on individual performance metrics.

For instance, GPS trackers monitor players’ speed and distance covered, helping optimize conditioning drills. Biomechanics sensors also identify movement patterns that may lead to strain or injury, allowing for specific corrective measures. 

This personalized approach improves training effectiveness and minimizes the risk of overexertion and associated injuries.

Physical, societal, and economic effects of wearable technology in sports

Source: The Sport Journal

Wearable technology in sports brings about a spectrum of positive and negative effects. We have focused on the positive aspects: improved physical performance, injury prevention, personalized training, etc.

Now, let’s dive deeper into these positive and negative effects across industries.

Positive effects of wearable technology in sports

We have already mentioned some positives, but there are others that extend beyond performance monitoring and training.

• Precision rehabilitation: Wearables help precisely monitor and guide rehabilitation exercises, promoting targeted recovery and reducing the risk of re-injury.
• Fan engagement: Wearable tech offers data-driven insights during live events, enhancing fan engagement by better understanding athletes’ actions and achievements in real time.
• Increased sponsorship opportunities: This data provides valuable content for sponsors, enhancing sponsorship opportunities and revenue streams for athletes, teams, and sports organizations.
• Data-driven decision-making: Athletes and coaches can make informed decisions based on the continuous data stream, leading to more precise training strategies and improved performance. It can result in higher-quality games and competitions.

Negative effects of wearable technology in sports

Now, let’s get to the potential downsides of wearable devices in the sports industry.

• Data privacy concerns: The collection and storage of sensitive biometric data raise privacy concerns, potentially exposing athletes to data breaches or unauthorized use of personal information.
• Overemphasis on metrics: Sports “purists” often warn that an excessive focus on metrics can overshadow qualitative aspects of sports, such as technique and intuition, potentially affecting the “magic” connected with professional sports.
• Financial barriers: The cost of high-end wearable technology may create disparities between clubs, leagues and countries. It could limit access for athletes and teams with fewer financial resources and lead to unequal opportunities. The future of wearable tech needs to be scalable and affordable to avoid creating unfair advantages.

A review of the effects of wearable tech in sports

As wearable devices become integral to the sporting landscape, an overview of their consequences reveals an interplay of advantages and challenges.

On the one hand, these devices offer real-time insights into athletes’ physical metrics, fostering performance enhancement.

Conversely, a potential downside is the risk of overemphasizing data-driven strategies. In other words, we still need to leave space for intuition, instinct, flair, and other things that make sports impactful and fun to watch.

It’s safe to say that wearable tech in sports is a net positive. Adopting wearables fuels innovation and growth of the sports tech market. It makes teams more skilled, prepared, and competitive. 

However, as things progress, we need to keep in mind that wearable devices are tools and, as such, should be affordable and equally available to everyone.

Future of wearable technology in sports

The future of wearable technology in sports holds significant opportunities for engineers, clinicians, data scientists and more.

Here are some fields where we can expect advancement in wearable tech in the sports industry.

• Engineering: Engineers are central to shaping the future of sports wearables. There are great opportunities for innovation in sensor technology, materials science, and device design. In the future, we could see improved battery life, connectivity, and overall durability of devices.
• Medical practice: Collaboration between clinicians and technologists is crucial to ensure wearables meet medical standards and contribute to athlete care. We’re already witnessing medical professionals developing new metrics and ways to analyze and track player health.
• Data science: As wearables generate a wealth of information, data scientists can employ advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to extract patterns, predict performance trends in sports and more. With AI and machine learning advancements, we’re bound to see some progress here.
• User experience: A more user-centric approach will ensure that athletes are more likely to adopt and consistently use wearables, contributing to the quality of data collected. After all, it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep this technology easy to use, analyze and understand. As all technology constantly moves towards a user-centered philosophy, this will likely affect wearable sports tech.

Incorporating this data into predictive models

A crucial aspect of the future of sports tech involves smoothly incorporating precise data from wearable sensors into predictive models.

The goal is to go beyond ensuring athlete safety; it’s about enhancing performance through predictive analytics. By combining state-of-the-art technology with predictive modeling, the players in this arena are charting a path toward the future of a sport that is not only safer but also more efficient and highly optimized.

The result? A more competitive, nuanced sports industry will entertain its audiences with better games and more intelligent strategies.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you understand the ins and outs of wearable technology in sports. 

As all sports evolve and tactical and physical demands become more advanced, we at GoRout believe that sports technology is more critical than ever.

Not only does it keep the players safer and help mitigate injury risk, but it also makes sports fun and more competitive!

Join us in advocating for the approval of coach-to-player communication technology in 2024 by signing our petition to the NCAA. Let’s propel sports technology into a future where performance and strategy are at a historical peak!

FAQs

Let’s answer frequently asked questions about wearable technology in sports.

Why is wearable gear important in sports?

Wearable gear is crucial for real-time physiological data, enabling personalized training and injury prevention. 

It improves performance monitoring by capturing detailed movements and optimizing training strategies. 

Wearable devices can also facilitate communication between coaches and athletes, providing immediate feedback and strategic guidance, improving health management, enhancing performance, and better communication in sports. 

All of which results in better games and more advanced tactics!

What are examples of wearable technology in football?

There are plenty of examples of wearable tech in football. For instance, GPS (global positioning system) trackers monitor player movements, speed, and distance. 

Smart clothing with biomechanics sensors helps assess form and identify injury risks. Electronic performance monitoring systems provide real-time data on heart rate, exertion, and recovery metrics. 

Most notably, coach-to-player communication devices allow coaches to call plays and communicate with the players on the field.

What is the future of sports wearables?

The future of wearable tech in sports is exciting, as with much tech right now. Advancements in sensor technology, miniaturization, and data analytics could lead to more sophisticated devices that provide deeper insights into athletes’ health and performance. 

Also, integration with augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality could do wonders for training simulations and strategy development.