Technology has revolutionized the way we play and watch sports. Football is no exception: technology even has a considerable impact on the performance of players and teams in this sport!
Using advanced analytics to track player performance and employing geolocation systems to measure the distance players cover during a match, technology aims to improve footballers' performance. Let's examine how artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way football is played at the professional level.
Artificial intelligence, a tool for improving performance in football
AI in football serves many purposes. One of them is, of course, to analyze data collected from players to help them improve their athletic performance, but also their statistics. Thus, AI is commonly used to analyze passing accuracy, shot success rates, and the defensive positioning of footballers.
Such data is then used to develop personalized training plans for each player, focusing on improving their strengths and mitigating their weaknesses.
It's worth noting that clubs like PSG have already used artificial intelligence to optimize their performance in the Champions League, for example. In fact, the Parisian club launched a competition with the École Polytechnique to recruit a mathematician to bolster Thomas Tuchel's staff when he was the coach. On another note, according to football betting sites, PSG is expected to easily defeat Olympique Lyonnais in the next league match.
Overall, it's important to understand that artificial intelligence is a major performance monitoring tool for coaches and their players, as it provides them with a precise understanding of progress. Furthermore, AI directly contributes to the development of game tactics and assists coaches in their decision-making.
These technological innovations are changing the face of football
While technologies such as VAR ( Video Assistant Referee ), which was introduced in 2014, have improved the integrity of the game in sporting competitions, others are less well known but which directly contribute to improving player performance.
Thus, nowadays, drones are used to film training sessions and official matches. The information gathered using drones, which are equipped with GPS trackers and other heart rate monitors, allows footballers to better meet their coach's expectations.
Another example of technology poised to revolutionize competitive sports is smart jerseys! The German national football team already uses smart jerseys from Adidas. These jerseys record the players' distance, speed, and heart rate. The collected data helps refine training programs on a case-by-case basis, identify predisposing patterns, and correct inconsistencies observed in some athletes.
Finally, devices have even been developed to make footballers' training easier. One example is RoboGym, a robotic weightlifting machine that reduces players' recovery time while protecting their muscles and joints. RoboGym even helps prevent injuries in footballers whose bodies have been under particular strain!
