Lesson 2 Why Sports Technology is the Game Changer
Technology Kicks in Soccer
Technology ____ sparked a wave of innovation, not just in our everyday lives but also in the world of sports.
Sports technology ____ undergone considerable advancement over time, enhancing various aspects such as player performance, training, fan engagement, and referee decisions.
____ soccer, which has as many as 3.5 billion fans, is no exception.
Let’s dive into how ____ has brought about positive transformations in soccer.
____ would have experienced the frustration of their team losing a game due to a controversial decision by the referee.
Disagreements with referee decisions happen a ____ in soccer.
However, technology ensures fair play in soccer by assisting the referee ____ making accurate judgments.
Multiple ____ cameras installed on the stadium roof and the sensors in the soccer ball detect the ball’s position more than 500 times per second and transmit this information to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
In the 2022 World Cup, the power of VAR was demonstrated in the match where the Saudi Arabian team, ranked 53rd in ____ world, won 2-1 against Argentina, ranked 4th in the world.
Three of Argentina’s goals were canceled by the VAR system because of ____ penalties.
Since the introduction of this technology, players have almost entirely stopped ____ significant protests against referee decisions.
Goal-line technology determines if the ball has crossed ____ goal line and informs the referee.
To ____ this, seven cameras are installed for each goal.
A 3D image is created with videos captured by each camera ____ calculate the exact position of the ball.
When the ball completely crosses the goal line, the referee’s watch vibrates within about one second and displays the word ____
This video ____ also released to the audience.
Advanced connected ball technology measures physical touch ____ helps determine the scorer for each goal.
In the match ____ Portugal and Uruguay, a Portuguese player kicked the ball in from the left, and another player jumped up and scored with a header.
The latter was ____ as the scorer.
However, it was soon corrected by crediting ____ player who had kicked the ball in from the left.
As seen in the image above, movement was detected in the graph when the ball was kicked, but ____ graph remained still when the header was attempted.
As a result, it was technologically proven that the scorer was the player who kicked the ball, ____ the player who attempted the header.
Wearable technology monitors the physical conditions of soccer players, which enables “high-tech soccer” based ____ big data.
People started to take an interest in wearable technology during the match between South Korea and Portugal at the ____ World Cup.
A South Korean player ____ the winning goal and removed his jersey in celebration.
He was wearing a black vest that came ____ just below his chest.
Many fans wondered what it ____ for, discovering later that it contained a small tracking device.
These days soccer teams use wearable technology like this to collect data, such as distance run, top speed, and players’ heart rates during ____
This data enables coaches and players ____ make more informed decisions regarding training and game strategies.
Technology is also ____ to protect soccer players.
Repeated headers can damage ____ brain and be dangerous for players in the long run.
This is why the Football Association prohibits players under the ____ of 12 from performing headers altogether.
It also recommends that all players, including professionals, shouldn’t be ____ to more than 10 headers a week in training.
So, soccer teams have introduced virtual reality platforms so ____ players can practice headers without the risk of brain damage.
Artificial intelligence is also being ____ to analyze players’ medical profiles, fitness assessment results, and performance data to identify those who might be at risk of suffering an injury.
Last but not least, technology is ____ used to make the experience of soccer fans much more enjoyable.
Fans can now easily purchase tickets online and enter the stadium more quickly by using facial recognition technology without showing their ____
Furthermore, in addition ____ live broadcasting on television, fans can enjoy the game at home or on the go, thanks to live online streaming.
With technology shifting so quickly, the world’s biggest ____ most celebrated sport, soccer, could improve even more.
____ this change also comes with its opposition and concerns.
Many are against the Video Assistant Referee system, arguing that it disrupts the natural flow ____ games.
Also, wearable devices and facial recognition ____ pose privacy risks.
Lastly, the more money a soccer club has, the more it may benefit from technology, ____ causes concerns about fairness.
Nonetheless, by balancing the advantages ____ disadvantages of sports technology, the coming years will be exciting for soccer players, teams, and fans alike.