Of all professional sports leagues worldwide, the National Football League (NFL) has, by a significant margin, the biggest audience. Next month, the Super Bowl will likely set a record for national TV ratings and bring millions of viewers from around the world. Also, many people will be looking forward to placing a Super Bowl bet.
One of the essential components that have influenced the sport in recent times is technology. There have been innovations to how the fans watch, engage, and stay up to speed on the most recent news and information. This article will look at how these modifications have helped improve American football.
Television
Television may have altered the sport more than any other technological improvement. It made many of the league’s most significant developments possible and contributed to the NFL’s quick rise in reputation and revenue.
Improved broadcast technology gave rise to and was responsible for the instant replay system. Thanks to TV, teams now use video to instruct and educate players, and the league uses it to rate referees. Also, to match the satisfaction of watching from home, clubs have carried out stadium upgrades, among which are installing sizable TV monitors.
Officiating
The Art McNally GameDay Central, from which the league keeps track of games and assesses officials, is powered by cutting-edge technology. It powers the instant replay system that helps officials make accurate calls. An identical piece of technology also makes it possible for referees, managers, and players to communicate during games.
Strategy
Technology facilitates communication between players and teams and provides coaches with the resources they need to design and make last-minute changes to game plans. Players are equipped with digital playbooks and unique highlight reels on devices supplied by their clubs. Also, coaches can analyze their opponents’ in-game attacking and defensive strategies with tablets provided by the league.
Player Protection
Technology aids in better safeguarding football players against unnecessary risks. Its effects can be seen in uniform playing pitches, more sophisticated pads, and headgear.
Additionally, expert athletic trainers may use video to identify potential concussions and other ailments during games, and teams are able to maintain computerized health records to take care of athletes better.
Some of the devices which have gone on to change the game include RFID tags, X-Patchs, and the Vicis Zero1 helmet. Others include MC10’s BioStamp sensor, mobile virtual players, Highland Tightp, fan jerseys, and VR headsets.
RFID Tags
Zebra Technologies and the NFL collaborated to develop radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for players’ shoulder pads, taking sports analysis to an entirely different level. The gadgets can instantly convey real-time data throughout the globe by transmitting to receivers placed throughout the stadium. The RFID tags monitor player statistics like running distances, velocity, acceleration, and separation from other players. The players themselves have access to the data from these devices the day after games, and NFL clubs can utilize it to aid in planning and health monitoring.
X-Patch
Two patches to assess concussions were developed by X2 Biosystems in response to the rising concern about brain trauma. The patches record head hits and store the information in accompanying apps, replacing the need for helmet sensors. The sensors are worn behind the ear and inside the upper gum shield.
Vicis Zero1
Crumple zones incorporated into the front end of a vehicle cushion the impact during a collision, ensuring that the force is less severe. The Zero1 helmet from Vicis operates on an identical concept. The concussion-protection helmet includes a soft outer shell and an interior layer built of collapsible columns that are intended to lessen collisions.
Final Words
American football is a big deal. And, like with any well-known sport, there is significant expenditure aimed at developing the game in as many ways as possible. There have been several modifications to the sport over the years, from team management to broadcasting, from facilities to safety measures.
The role of technology in American football cannot be overstated. It has developed to provide players with more dependable equipment and medical facilities with top instructors and physicians, and its influence will increase over the coming years.