The role of technology in sport

Technology affects several key groups and elements in sport, including officials who organise events, performers' training methods, the measurement of athletic performance, and the spectator experience.

Types of sports technology

Sports technology comes in various forms, each designed to address specific needs within athletic activities.

Main categories of sports technology

• Safety equipment - Items designed to protect athletes from injury, such as helmets, pads, crash mats, and head and neck support (HANS) devices.
• Officiating tools - Devices that assist referees and umpires in making accurate decisions, including marking spray for setting distances, ball-tracking systems, timing devices, and video review systems.
• Performance analysis systems - Tools for evaluating and improving athlete performance, such as slow-motion video capture, data analysis software, and statistical tracking systems.
• Sports medicine - Technologies supporting recovery and health, including altitude tents, ice baths for reducing inflammation, and physiotherapy equipment.
• Specialised clothing - Garments tailored for specific conditions, such as moisture-wicking fabrics, stormproof materials, insulated clothing, technical swimwear, and fire-resistant gear.
• Training aids - Equipment and facilities that support practice, like artificial playing surfaces, automated practice equipment, and facilities with retractable roofs.
• Advanced materials - Innovative substances used in equipment, including carbon fibre, specialised flooring, weather-resistant fabrics, and engineered balls.
• Specialised footwear - Shoes designed for optimal performance, featuring traction elements, performance spikes, and surface-specific sole designs.

Specific examples of sports technologies

Certain technologies stand out for their innovative applications in sport.

Altitude tents

Altitude tents are artificial environments that recreate the conditions of living and training at high altitude. Athletes sleep or train inside these tents where the air has reduced oxygen levels. This leads to physiological adaptations, such as increased red blood cell production, which can improve endurance performance when returning to sea level.

Multisensor monitoring

Multisensor monitoring involves devices inserted into holders on vests worn by athletes. These devices collect data on physical performance, including heart rate, movement patterns, speed, effort, and intensity levels.

Ball-tracking technology (e.g., Hawk-Eye)

Ball-tracking technology, such as Hawk-Eye, is a complex computer system used in sports like cricket and tennis. It visually tracks the ball's trajectory and predicts its most likely path using multiple cameras and algorithms.

Infrared imaging systems

Infrared imaging systems are used in cricket to detect heat signatures. They determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat, or pads by showing temperature differences. This assists umpires in deciding if a batsman is out.

Fully automatic timing (FAT)

Fully automatic timing (FAT) is a method for precisely timing races. The clock starts automatically with the starting signal, and it stops using line-scan cameras that detect when athletes cross the finish line.

Goal-line technology (GLT)

Goal-line technology (GLT) determines if a football has fully crossed the goal line. It uses cameras and sensors to detect the ball's position, sending a radio signal to the referee's watch within one second if a goal is scored.

Laser measurement devices

Laser measurement devices provide precise, computer-generated measurements in field events like javelin or long jump.

Positive and negative impacts of technology on performers

Technology can greatly influence athletes, known as performers in sport.

Positive impacts on performers

• Improved training methods through tools like multisensor monitoring, leading to better performance.
• Ability to challenge unfair decisions using video reviews.

Negative impacts on performers

• Unequal access to advanced technology.
• Advantage for performers from wealthier nations.
• Potential disruptions during games due to technology reviews.

Positive and negative impacts of technology on sports

Technology shapes the broader world of sports by affecting fairness, investment, and the flow of games.

Positive impacts on sports

• Fairer and more consistent decision-making with tools like GLT and Hawk-Eye.
• Added drama and excitement during technology-assisted reviews.
• Increased investment from sponsors interested in innovative features.

Negative impacts on sports

• Disruption of game flow when reviews or technical issues occur.
• Occasional incorrect decisions if technology malfunctions.
• Influence from investors who fund technology in exchange for control over its use.

Positive and negative impacts of technology on spectators

Spectators, the audiences watching sports, experience technology through enhanced viewing options.

Positive impacts on spectators

• Better information from expert analysis, replays, and data overlays.
• Transparency in decision-making, building trust in officials.
• Additional excitement during review processes that add tension.

Negative impacts on spectators

• Ability to see errors via broadcasts not available to officials.
• Frustration when teams exhaust their limited reviews.

Positive and negative impacts of technology on officials

Officials, such as referees and umpires, rely on technology to make accurate calls.

Positive impacts on officials

• Assistance in correct decision-making through tools like video reviews.
• Improved communication with colleagues via headsets and instant signals.

Negative impacts on officials

• Potential undermining of authority when decisions are overturned by technology.
• Overreliance on systems, which might reduce traditional skills.

Recent developments in football technology

Football has seen several technological advancements in recent years, mainly at elite levels.

Key recent developments

• Communication systems - Devices allowing referees and assistants to discuss decisions in real-time.
• Distance markers - Tools like marking spray to set precise distances for free kicks and walls.
• Electronic goal-line detection systems - Permitted since 2012, these include GLT to confirm goals, though mainly used in professional leagues.