Sports innovation is transforming the fan experience, driving people to stadiums and online, and opening new avenues for growth. Yet, with such a rapid pace of change, keeping up with the latest technologies is challenging. To stay ahead, sports organizations need to know which new ideas are worth investing in.
This year’s top sports technology trends include wearable technology, AI coaching, VR training, the rise of women’s sport, and personalized training. Embracing these trends is essential for sports teams and facilities that want to maintain their competitive edge, promote health and safety, and boost revenue.
The future of sports is all about leveraging data and technology to create more tailored, individualized player development programs. The varying physical and technical demands of different positions call for specific training regimens, and these can be hard to pinpoint without the help of AI-enabled performance tracking tools. These tech systems track key metrics like movement, speed, and workload to optimize player training, helping athletes improve skills, reduce injury risk, and reach their full potential.
Smart helmets have also revolutionized athlete training, cutting concussion risks by up to 50% in preseason practices and enabling coaches to adjust team-wide practice strategies on the fly. Meanwhile, new platforms are consolidating wearable devices and aggregating data for easy analysis. For example, Firstbeat Sports combines data from multiple wearables and other sources into a single dashboard for easy access to insights that help drive better performance and reduce injuries.