In today’s fast-paced world, technology and sports seem to go hand-in-hand, and wearable tech devices are rapidly becoming the norm for all types of athletes. Here on the Insight Replay blog, we recently discussed the positive impact of technology on high school football, as well as technology’s role in preventing head injuries in high school sports. Wearable tech has had a positive impact and is helping create better-informed athletes of all kinds. From improving your baseball and tennis swing to better pacing yourself in long-distance running, here are some devices to help high school athletes safely improve their games.
Adidas MiCoach
From heart rate monitors to wristband cardio trackers, and personalized fitness monitors to shoe clip-ons that track a runner’s speed, distance, and stride, the MiCoach line of wearable tech has something for every type of fitness-enthusiast. Avid soccer player? The Smart Ball is a soccer ball with an integrated sensor that allows you to assess and improve your kicking skills. Basketball skills need a boost? The X Cell measures your reaction time, endurance, vertical jump, and other factors to help step up your game not only in basketball, but various other sports as well.
FITGuard
Much like the Reebok Checklight cap we talked about last month, Force Impact Technologies’ FITGuard helps determine the severity of the wearer’s head injuries. Coaches and trainers can determine if a contact sports player should stay in the game or get checked out to avoid further injury via an app that is synced to the athlete’s mouthpiece.
mTHROW
With numerous products on the market to help batters improve their hitting strategies, there are few wearable devices with the pitcher in mind. Motus Global’s mTHROW, however, is a compression sleeve that contains a motion sensor near the elbow. The mTHROW uses an app to record data that will not only help prevent common pitcher injuries, but also improve a player’s throwing game.
Sensoria Fitness
In a time when smartwatches and other wearable trackers are all the rage, Sensoria took wearable to a whole new level by building it right into your workout gear, incorporating this technology into socks, sports bras and T-shirts.
Sensoria socks feature an anklet that measures running form, cadence, and foot-landing technique. Their sports bra and T-shirt include a heart rate monitor to help better track your fitness goals. All their gear is antimicrobial and machine washable, making it that much easier to use regularly to keep track of your athletic progress.
ShotTracker
Taking shot after shot is the best way to improve your basketball skills. But measuring your success isn’t always a simple science. The ShotTracker system includes wearable sleeve and wrist sensors, as well as a net attachment, that track shot attempts, misses, and swishes. Players can use the app to analyze their stats and determine the best ways to decrease their number of misses, and even compete with other ShotTracker users for additional motivation.
Zepp
Zepp specializes in products that help baseball, softball, tennis, and golf players get the most out of every swing. The baseball and softball devices attach to the knob of the bat, recording information about each swing and giving feedback on how to improve your hitting game. Similarly, the tennis sensor is secured to the bottom of the racket and captures information on each stroke that will help you improve future sets. The golf tracker attaches to your golf glove to help you reach your golf stroke goals.
Of course, practice and persistence are the only sure way to perfect your athletic skills. But with these and other wearable technologies readily available, high school athletes are now armed with a plethora of advanced tools to help them reach their fitness goals, become better players and avoid serious injuries.
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