In 1955, Eugene Polley developed the first ever wireless remote control, “Flashmatic.” For the first time in history, channel surfing didn’t require anything more than lifting a hand.
It was convenient, innovative and it changed the way we watch TV forever.
In 1989, the Information Age would see its greatest legacy with the invention of the World Wide Web. Information was at our fingertips, and as the Internet evolved with each new iteration, we’ve stopped calling to order a pizza and instead open an app on our tablet or smartphone. We don’t have to go to the store to buy toothpaste; the click of a button has it delivered to our front door.
That’s what technology does; it changes the way we interact with the world and it never stops evolving. Of course, it’s an adjustment. But once you’ve adjusted, there’s no way you’d ever go back.
Bridging the sports technology gap
The same goes for sports when it comes to technology. Let’s look at college athletes for a second. Today, college athletes between the ages of 18 and 22 were born between 1995 and 1999. They grew up on technology, and it’s a huge part of how they communicate. They don’t have to adjust to new changes because technology is in their DNA.
But for some coaches, technology isn’t as familiar. Many grew up on VHS tapes, rewinding them over and over again to take a closer look at a specific play. Both athletes and coaches had playbooks that were bulky and heavy, lugged around like a piece of equipment. It was a sign of the times, and they didn’t know any other way.
Thankfully, today, there’s another way. Sports technology goes hand in hand with improved performance and player productivity. Coaches can share play sheets, diagrams, video and assignments with other coaches and athletes. Diagramming now saves hours each week through drawing tools you can use directly through the app, creating and sharing game plans and playbooks.
It has also changed one of the most important aspects of the game: scouting. Coaches have access to scout automation, allowing them to pull opponent personnel and statistics with the click of a button. They can also create opponent play diagrams, practice scripts and play cards that can be used with notes in a video app. It’s interactive and on-the-go. You don’t have to wait to get in the conference room to review your opponent’s tapes; you have access to it on the sidelines.
Bridging the technology gap between coaches and athletes is changing the game. Adam Bauman is the director of mass operations at the University of Buffalo and immediately saw the need to implement technology into the men’s basketball program. But first, he had to convince head coach Nate Oats.
Oats wasn’t interested in learning new technology, but saw the big picture and understood the impact it would have on his players and their performance, so he put Bauman in charge of managing the technology. Training internal staff members like operations directors or video coordinators is an easy solution for coaches who are gun shy about pulling the trigger when it comes to sports technology.
Athletic intelligence leads to smarter, adaptable athletes
Scott Goldman, PhD, from the University of Arizona, James Bowman, PsyD, from Great Neck Public Schools, and Alex Auerbach, MBA, from the University of North Texas, share on NCAA.org:
Athletes who possess superior athletic intelligence are better able to take in new information rapidly, grasping complex situations with speed and ease, and are able to generate numerous solutions to a problem. Additionally, the athlete is able to identify when a previously learned strategy did not work and thus more readily discard the failed strategy. Athletic intelligence includes flexibility and adaptability, and the ability to adjust to unanticipated variables.
That’s what sports technology does; it helps students take in new information, generate possible solutions and identify failed strategies in real time. Athletes today are more apt to study playbooks and do their homework when the information is interactive and easily accessible, making them smarter, more efficient players.
For coaches who aren’t familiar or comfortable using sports technology, it is an adjustment, but it’s one worth adjusting to. Old habits may die hard, but it’s time to put dated coaching techniques to rest.
Technology is revolutionizing the way coaches and players interact. As founder of Just Play Sports Solutions, Austin Barone is dedicated to providing teams with the tech they need to teach plays faster and prepare for games better. Share your thoughts with us on Facebook or Twitter.