English Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur hope to take their game to another level, by investing in technology app, Grow Football.
Designed by UK start-up business LV8 sport, Grow Football brings real-time football analysis straight to your Apple iPhone through its revolutionary AI-driven technology. The technology tracks performance on the training ground by scoring skills across a number of drills hand-picked by Grows experts.
The app works by allowing its users to film themselves performing a variety of different drills before being credited with a score on how they have performed each drill. Users can then upload and track their performance inside the Grow app, whilst having access to Leaderboards domestically and internationally.
An appealing function is the ability to create private groups, which could prove as a useful tool for coaches looking for instant analysis when tracking player progress at their club. You might wonder if you need a special type of football. The answer is no – Grow’s unique machine learning algorithms recognise any football and can track its movement.
The app has already been trialled at Tottenham’s Enfield training ground with Spurs academy players embracing the unprecedented technology. Unveiling the new partnership was Spurs superstar Son Heung-Min, who could be seen performing several drills whilst using the Grow app. The club’s players have also helped create some of the training drills and challenges found within the app.
LV8 Sports Chief Executive Francis Jago said via press release:
“Tottenham Hotspur’s track record of developing players is among the best out there, which is why the club’s expertise and input has been, and will continue to be, so invaluable to us in developing Grow Football. ‘Spurs’ credentials in embracing innovative ideas on and off the pitch is well known and the fact they have supported our work on this app speaks volumes.”
Grow Football credited students at the Imperial College of London for playing a major role in developing the technology over the past five years. The simplicity of the app means football players around the world can be coached whilst developing their skills just by having an iPhone and a ball.
When asked about the future of the app, Jago added:
“Our core aims are to make football fun and to help players of all ages improve their game. We believe Grow Football will not only change the way aspiring footballers and teams train but also get even more people active and into football.”
On the pitch, Tottenham Academy Manager Dean Rastrick sounded optimistic about the new technology.
“We look forward to being part of this journey and offering our knowledge and experience to help Grow Football become an app that can genuinely enhance the way people around the world train and play,” he said via press release.
The team at Grow are constantly updating the app with new functionality, drills, instructional content and competitions. Currently the app is limited to iPhone users, with android compatibility in the works.
