ESPN recently reported that the National Football League is expanding its data collection initiative so that all NFL footballs will carry data-collecting chips. Previously only kicking balls used during the preseason and Thursday Night Football games carried the chips. NFL players have also worn data-gathering shoulder pads since 2014.
Equipped with software from Zebra Technologies, all the footballs will be outfitted with RFID (radio frequency identification) chips. The information the tech-embedded NFL footballs gather will be used by sports broadcasters as part of the NFL Next-Gen statistics program as well as the league's competition committee.
The data-collecting chips are also an example of how technology can be used to improve performance in sports and physical fitness.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Data-collecting Sports Equipment
- The use of RFID chips in NFL footballs demonstrates the trend of data-collecting sports equipment, opening opportunities for improved performance analysis and personalized training.
- Tech-embedded Sports Analytics
- The NFL's Next-Gen statistics program showcases the trend of tech-embedded sports analytics, presenting opportunities for enhanced insights and strategic decision-making.
- Performance-enhancing Wearables
- The implementation of data-gathering shoulder pads and chip-embedded footballs reveals the trend of performance-enhancing wearables, allowing for real-time data monitoring and optimization.
Sectors Adopting This
- Sports Technology
- The sports technology industry can benefit from the demand for innovative data-collecting equipment and analytics solutions fueled by the integration of RFID chips in footballs.
- Broadcasting
- The broadcasting industry can leverage the increased availability of detailed player and game data from chip-embedded footballs to enhance sports coverage and engage viewers in new ways.
- Fitness Technology
- The fitness technology industry can explore opportunities to adapt data-gathering wearables used by NFL players to consumer-focused products, allowing individuals to track their own performance and optimize their workouts.
