Technology in modern football

We now live in the golden age of technology. That’s a given. 

Everything you could do on a computer 20 years ago can now be done twice as fast on a device five times smaller. 

It’s the way of the future and there’s no disputing that. 

Even sports that were created thousands of years ago are now utilising technology in attempts to make their game better. 

Football is no exception. Take the recently completed 2018 World Cup in Russia. 

This World Cup was arguably one of the best in recent memory and one filled with many amazing memories.  

From the 3-3 draw between Spain and Portugal, to the explosion of Kylian Mbappe and to the shock elimination of Germany, it was a tournament that never ceased to amaze. 

But this World Cup was also the first to use the newly introduced VAR (or Video Assistant Referee) program. 

Granted, the program isn’t perfect and will take some time until it’s unanimously considered a good addition to the world game. 

Just like any technologically advanced program in sport, the VAR has its naysayers. And these people aren’t necessarily incorrect, either. 

The fact the referee is left with the final decision is a part of the program that has caused perhaps the most controversy. 

This is perhaps where those in charge can look at a sport like cricket, which utilises the third umpire system perfectly and utilises a technologically advanced program in a way that is conducive to the product and quality of the sport. 

But with the way the world is moving on and off the football pitch, it’s a great place to start, despite its controversial outcomes in some matches in Russia, none more so than the final. 

Looking past VAR, there are many other forms of technology that allow the game to be improved.  

Referees at a high enough level wear watches that don’t just tell them when to blow their whistles to start or end play, but also shots on goal that may or may not have crossed the line. 

Big screens at matches allow fans to be able to see the game from a viewpoint closer to the action as well as their general view. 

Live footballing updates from around the globe, something usually hard to come by have now been made so readily available in the last 20 years that it’s as easy as turning your phone on and opening an application. 

We even see this at National Premier League level in Australia through the use of football updates app Futbol24. 

People nowadays can see everything on these kinds of apps.

From who’s starting, who’s on the substitutes bench, who gets yellow carded, who gets red carded, who scores, you get the picture. 

This kind of access is unprecedented and has allowed the world game to develop into exactly that, a game that can be viewed and kept track of worldwide. 

It’s gotten so far that on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat, games can be recorded (even if it’s just in small doses) and broadcasted live to anyone in the world who wishes to watch the match. 

Live broadcasting isn’t something we aren’t accustomed to but the way in which broadcasting has evolved ever since the 70’s and 80’s has seen the game grow rapidly in some parts of the world. 

Let’s look at the 2018 World Cup again. The way the games were broadcasted in Russia was vastly different to that of previous tournaments. 

In previous tournaments, games would be shown on recognised channels in different countries and for Australia that was SBS. 

For the Russia tournament, Optus acquired the rights to broadcast all 64 games and this was seen as a step into the future.  

For a few years now we have become accustomed to seeing popular movies, TV shows and documentaries finding their way onto streaming services such as Netflix and Stan. 

For football, it was time to make a similar move into the future. But despite all the promises made, Optus wasn’t able to deliver and its coverage of the tournament was amateurish and left many football fans across Australia shattered at not being able to see the finals of the greatest tournament on planet Earth. 

But despite all this, perhaps the biggest technological change in football has been with how players train. 

With so much technology now at clubs’ disposal, there are countless ways for players to be trained that are now vastly different and superior to some of the methods used way back when. 

Australian company Preau Sports has come up with a genius idea to incorporate new technology into the training of aspiring footballers across the globe. 

Their project ‘SmartGoals’ is a fun and innovative way of allowing technology to become an integral part of training sessions and player development from the grassroots level all the way up to clubs that are playing in the UEFA Champions League. 

‘SmartGoals’ are training cones that light up when sensors in and around the cone have been triggered. So when a player kicks a ball between two different cones, they will light up. 

This information can then be stored onto a cloud and then documented by the respective clubs to keep a close eye on player’s development and improvement over time. 

All information can be stored and viewed on the SmartGoals app which is the cherry on top of this revolutionary idea. 

With this technology now in the hands of some of the biggest clubs in Europe such as Ajax Amsterdam, it’s extremely safe to say that technology in football has arrived and if anyone has anything to say about it, it’s going to improve the quality of football and footballers to no end.

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Caelum Ferrarese is a Senior journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on micro policy within Australasia and industry disruptions at grassroots level.

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SciSports: Delivering a comprehensive data solution for football operations

Best popularised by Football Manager, football fans around the world are becoming increasingly aware of data-driven software and analysis. In truth, these worlds have been colliding for some time as the football industry continues to be at the forefront of innovation.

Leading the way in this area is Dutch-based company SciSports, which has risen to prominence in Europe for its diverse range of data-driven software services.

The company delivers key football operations services, including recruitment, performance and opponent analysis, career advice, and data delivery. These services are utilised by national teams, clubs, players and player agencies, and league associations.

Its leading partnerships are with the Dutch Eredivisie and Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), as well as Premier League club Crystal Palace, and A-League side Adelaide United.

In addition, its applications are used by a host of British and European football clubs, winning many plaudits from performance analysts and football recruitment departments.

This article will take you on a deep-dive into the range of applications SciSports offers, and how it is changing the face of football operations.

Recruitment

Arguably its most prized feature, SciSports provides its clients the very best data-driven player recruitment software money can buy.

Its application connects club scouts and player agencies to over 270,000 players in the men’s and women’s game, 3,700 clubs, and 250 league divisions.

Part of the software allows clubs to create their own profile that details their style of play. This helps clubs save valuable time in their recruitment process because players who suit the club’s profile will be prioritised within its search engine.

Player profiles built within the application include features such as the SciSkill Index – an in-house player performance metric – performance statistics, and player roles.

WIthin its Pro recruitment application, player profiles include AI powered player valuations, and a GBE points calculator that determines the eligibility of a player for work permit or visa applications.

SciSports offers a monthly subscription package for its two recruitment application offerings (Essential and Pro), benefitting clubs at all levels of the professional game.  

Altogether, SciSports’ in-depth, data-driven technology is making football recruitment simpler and more efficient, helping football clubs steer clear of the “flop” branding that permeates through modern football.

Career Advice

Connected to its recruitment and performance analysis services, SciSports can assist players and player agencies greatly.

Their career advice service enables agencies’ to create player-profiles for their clients, driven by SciSports existing performance analysis software.

The profile contains in-depth information ranging from physical attributes and tactical suitability, to career history and player ambitions.

Again, the application is offered in two monthly subscription packages – Lite and Pro – which have differing levels of access for players and agents.

Whilst the services helps a player market themselves, it also better informs them about where their next move should be, which SciSports evidences through its high-profile player partnerships.

Case Study – Memphis Depay

SciSports’ highest-profile success story is current Atletico Madrid and Netherlands forward, Memphis Depay.

After struggling at Manchester United, Depay and his agent sought the help of SciSports to assist in revitalising his career.

His player profile and subsequent analysis advised him to reject moves to Spain, Italy, and England, in favour of a move to French Ligue 1 club, Olympique Lyon, who were seen as best-suited to his playing style.

Depay revitalised his career, going on to score 63 goals in 139 appearances for OL, before representing his country at the 2021 European Championships and 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Fellow Dutch forward Wout Weghorst is known to have succeeded using SciSports career advice and performance analysis applications, whilst several Dutch Eredivisie players have been known to further their careers.

Performance Analysis

Having the ability to analyse player and team performance day-by-day is imperative in elite football. SciSports aims to assist elite football clubs in offering extensive performance analysis applications.

Its performance analysis software is data provider agnostic, meaning it can be connected to existing data sources such as player-tracking data (GPS systems), event data, and video footage.

The result is a one-stop-shop software for performance analysts and coaches to use with their players and teams.

The package produces greater staff reporting, video analysis, and data visualisations, all of which are vital to being a successful football operation.

Given the diverse nature of football tactics and analysis, pricing for its service is available for request only.

Opponent Analysis

Similar to its performance analysis services, SciSports also provides opponent analysis for football clubs.

In today’s football climate, getting the edge over a rival takes place not just on the pitch, but in offices over weeks and months. One small piece of analysis could be the difference between failure and success.

SciSports again uses incredible detail to provide clubs with analysis that evolves simple stats into some of the most niche around. For instance, attacking and defensive style trends, or the types of set-piece variations an opponent runs, their success rate, and times in games that they run them.

Data-driven opponent analysis is already a prominent feature in professional football, but SciSports existing services in recruitment and performance analysis situates them as an industry leader.

Data Delivery

Last, but not least in its catalogue of services, SciSports can integrate its software with existing in-house technology, making the transition easy for football clubs and player agencies to align with the company.

Like its performance analysis service, pricing for its in-house data-delivery solutions are available for request only.

SciSports are expanding its operation to leagues in North and Central America, and whether it penetrates the Asian or Australian market or not, its services are a valuable template for improving football operations.

With some of the world’s leading universities based in Australia, there is a clear capacity for the creation of data-driven software that can drive the professionalisation and expansion of the Australian game.

For full information on SciSports, you can find it here.

Football included in American sports to feature on multi-platform service

Warner Bros, ESPN, and FOX have all united in their partnership to launch a sports streaming platform that will offer 15 various networks, covering all of America’s major sport leagues – amongst the likes of the NBA, NFL, MLB, only to mention a few.

The streaming service will also broadcast matches of the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup, with it indisputably being the most important sporting event on a global scale to
feature on the platform. In addition, it is also set to welcome NWSL, MLS, LALIGA, Bundesliga, UEFA and CONCACAF competitions.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first World Cup to be played across three nations including Canada, Mexico, and most fundamentally, the United States of America.

The United States is arguably the most polarising country across the globe. Whether it’s within their pop-culture, rich history, or “ American way” of doing things – they have seemed to yet again trailblaze another industry.

While the power play has been acknowledged, on paper it seems to be a reasonable idea to merge multiple platforms together to become the platform. However, question marks
surrounding the quality of the broadcast begin to prosper.

Given the high volume of variety in which the platform possesses, will the World Cup receive the dedicated, articulative broadcast it deserves? The basis for the questioning arrives at the irrefutable fact that United States viewers tend to showcase more appreciation for national sports leagues, such as the NBA or NFL. Given their enormous respective markets, it is of assumption that the three-way partnership is opting to dedicate their primary focus to their cash-cows.

Time will ultimately tell, however it is also safe to presume that given the United States are primary hosts of the greatest sporting event, in which arrives every four seasons, it is not
irrational to believe that they will dedicate themselves adequately to provide tremendous coverage to the prestigious event.

Given there’s no personnel change due to the potential of cutting costs across the board to accommodate all multiple sporting juggernauts, Fox will keep their greatest pundits
available for the decorated competition.

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