Physical Education · Ch 1 — Changing Trends & Career in Physical Education
Technology in sports
Technology in sports
In modern life, technology is a great tool for making life easier, and its advances have greatly affected sports science. As the sports industry has grown, so has the demand for technological study. Today no sport is untouched by technology, whether for officiating, performance analysis or safety and mechanical analysis.
1. Officiating technology
- LED lights are used in sports like cricket, where LED stumps light up to show whether the ball has hit the stumps, helping officials make correct decisions.
- Infra-red technology - the "Hot Spot" infra-red imaging system lets umpires and commentators see whether the bat has struck the ball.
- Video technology - replays and slow-motion recordings are used to take decisions in cricket, football, basketball and more; VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is a popular video technology used by referees in football.
- Laser technology - used to detect fouls and remove subjective judgement of movements; 3-D laser technology is used for scoring gymnasts, and laser systems are used on long-jump and triple-jump take-off boards to identify foul jumps.
2. Protective equipment
Technologically advanced materials produce safer and more comfortable protective gear - such as cricket helmets - that let sportspersons play at their peak without compromising safety.
3. Timing system
GATES, laser or touch sensors provide the most precise race times possible, measuring down to the thousandth of a second and eliminating rounding errors.
4. Location Tracking System
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is used in training and competition. Using tracking devices, teams can follow players' movements on the pitch and collect large amounts of performance data; the system is also used in stadiums to manage spectators and crowds during mega events.