wearable sports technology: 7 Powerful Benefits in 2025

The Game-Changing Impact of Wearable Sports Technology

Remember when coaches relied on stopwatches and gut feelings? Those days are disappearing fast! Wearable sports technology has completely transformed how athletes train, recover, and compete at every level of sport.

So what exactly are we talking about here? These clever little devices are electronic gadgets that athletes wear to collect real-time data about their performance and body metrics. From the pros to weekend warriors, these technologies are changing the game in ways we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago.

The most common devices you’ll spot on athletes today include GPS trackers strapped to their backs, heart rate monitors around their chests, and smartwatches on their wrists. Some elite performers even use specialized muscle oxygen sensors to dive deeper into their physiology.

What makes these gadgets so valuable is the incredible range of metrics they track. Athletes can now know their exact speed, distance covered, heart rate patterns, sleep quality, muscle fatigue levels, and even detailed biomechanical data about how they move. Gone are the days of guesswork!

The market for these devices has absolutely exploded. Back in 2020, the industry was projected to sell over 400 million wearable smart devices worth a staggering $34 billion. Fitness, activity, and sports trackers made up more than 60% of this booming market.

As Joseph Amitrano, a Sports Performance Specialist, puts it: “We are trying to understand, holistically, what is going to allow them to perform at the highest level.”

The impact of these technologies can be truly life-changing. Take that Lehigh University football player who tore his ACL in his first game. By using wearable muscle oxygen sensors during his rehabilitation, he cut his recovery time almost in half – from the typical 12 months down to just 6-7 months!

The financial stakes are enormous too. European football’s top five leagues lost an eye-watering €610 million in wages to injured players during the 2021/22 season – a 29% jump from the previous year. What’s most shocking? Nearly half of these injuries were potentially preventable soft-tissue injuries. Over in the NFL, teams spent approximately $500 million on injured player salaries in 2019, with projections suggesting this could rise to $800 million by 2022.

For coaches and athletes everywhere, wearable sports technology has turned the art of training into a science. Instead of hunches and subjective feelings, they now have objective data to guide their decisions, help prevent injuries before they happen, and optimize performance in ways that were simply impossible just a few years ago.

What Is Wearable Sports Technology & How Does It Work?

Ever wonder how athletes get those precise insights into their performance? Wearable sports technology works like a high-tech detective for your body, gathering clues about your movements and physical state that would otherwise remain hidden.

At its heart, these devices use something called sensor fusion—a fancy way of saying they combine data from multiple sensors to create a complete picture of what’s happening with your body. Think of it as different instruments in an orchestra coming together to create a symphony of information.

Most modern wearables pack an impressive array of sensors into surprisingly small packages. They typically include accelerometers to track how you move in a straight line, gyroscopes that detect rotational movements, GPS receivers for location tracking, heart rate monitors, temperature sensors, and even bioimpedance sensors that can measure things like muscle oxygen or hydration levels.

“I think there’s still a lack of actionable insight that can be gleaned from the data. What does that mean in the context of what the athlete is doing? That’s where artificial intelligence and machine learning can be applied to translate such data.” – Dhruv Seshadri, Biomedical Researcher

The real magic happens behind the scenes, where powerful AI algorithms transform these raw signals into meaningful metrics. For instance, when you’re running, these algorithms don’t just register movement—they analyze your exact stride length, how long your feet touch the ground, and how much you bounce up and down. These biomechanical details can make all the difference between peak performance and injury risk.

Most wearable sports technology systems work across three connected layers. First, there’s the device itself with all its sensors. Then there’s a cloud layer where your data gets stored and analyzed. Finally, there’s the app or dashboard where you actually see your results and get recommendations.

Not all wearables are created equal, though. The GPS units used by pro teams can pinpoint location within about 1 meter, while your typical consumer smartwatch might be off by 3-5 meters. Similarly, that chest strap heart monitor your cycling coach recommends will generally be more accurate than a wrist-based one, especially when you’re really pushing it.

Metric	GPS Accuracy	Accelerometer Accuracy	Typical Use Case
Distance	±2-5%	±1-3% (with calibration)	Training load monitoring
Speed	±5-10%	±3-7%	Sprint performance assessment
Position	1-5 meters	N/A	Tactical analysis
Energy expenditure	±10-15%	±8-12%	Metabolic load assessment
Movement patterns	Limited	High precision	Technique analysis

The real value comes from how these devices combine multiple data streams. Your energy expenditure, for example, isn’t just calculated from heart rate or movement alone—it’s a sophisticated blend of both, along with your personal profile data and environmental factors. This comprehensive approach helps coaches and athletes make better decisions about training intensity, recovery needs, and technique adjustments.

As microelectronics continue to shrink and AI algorithms become more sophisticated, wearable sports technology keeps getting smaller, more accurate, and more insightful. The days of training by feel alone are giving way to a new era where data-driven decisions help athletes of all levels train smarter, not just harder.

GPS & Position Trackers: Map Every Move

Ever wonder about those vest-like “sports bras” professional athletes wear during training sessions? These aren’t fashion statements – they’re GPS trackers, perhaps the most visible form of wearable sports technology on fields and courts worldwide. And trust me, they do way more than just count steps.

When an elite soccer player sprints down the sideline or a rugby player changes direction in a flash, professional-grade trackers like the Catapult S7/T7 are capturing it all. These sophisticated devices monitor total distance covered during a session (the foundation of workload tracking), but that’s just the beginning. They also break down distance in speed zones – telling coaches exactly how much time athletes spend jogging, running flat-out, or somewhere in between.

The real game-changer? These trackers record every acceleration and deceleration, counting both the number and intensity of speed changes. This matters because these moments of changing speed put tremendous stress on the body – often more than steady-state running.

“By their measurements, he was ready to go in six or seven months, so that’s huge,” explains strength coach Kevin Cahill, describing how GPS data helped an athlete return from an ACL tear in nearly half the typical recovery time. “A lot of it has to do with what we are doing in the training room, and ACL injuries have unfortunately become more common.”

These devices have transformed team sports by creating detailed positional heat maps showing where athletes spend their time, estimating metabolic power (the energy burned during activity), and even tracking tactical metrics like team shape and defensive coverage.

Will Sparkes, PhD, puts it perfectly: “If you’re part of a team that likes to play with overlapping fullbacks, you’ll likely want to recruit a fullback who has a high work rate and capacity to repeat high speed and sprint efforts for the duration of the game.” GPS data makes these previously subjective assessments measurable and concrete.

How reliable is all this data? Pretty solid, according to scientific research on GPS reliability published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. The study found that devices with higher sampling rates (10Hz units) provide sufficient accuracy for most team sports. That said, they’re still not perfect for measuring extremely short sprints or rapid direction changes.

Smart teams don’t look at GPS data in isolation. They combine these physical metrics with video analysis for context. When a midfielder covers less ground than usual, coaches can determine if it’s fatigue or simply a tactical shift that changed their role. By blending technology with traditional analysis, coaches can answer complex performance questions that were previously left to gut feelings and guesswork.

Heart-Rate, HRV & Vital-Sign Sensors: Listen to the Body

Remember when tracking your heart rate meant counting your pulse with your fingers? Those days are long gone. Today’s wearable sports technology gives us unprecedented access to what’s happening inside our bodies during exercise, recovery, and even sleep.

The technology behind these insights comes in several forms. Chest straps remain the gold standard, using electrocardiography (ECG) to directly measure the electrical signals from your heart. Optical sensors—those little green lights on the back of your smartwatch—detect blood flow changes with each heartbeat. And newer bioimpedance sensors measure electrical resistance in your tissues to track pulse waves.

But modern heart monitors do so much more than count beats per minute. They’re now windows into your overall health and readiness to perform.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has emerged as perhaps the most valuable metric for athletes. This measurement of the variation between heartbeats provides a fascinating glimpse into your autonomic nervous system—the balance between “fight or flight” and “rest and digest” modes. When your HRV is high, it generally indicates good recovery and readiness to train. When it drops, your body might be telling you to take it easy.

WHOOP has built an entire training ecosystem around these vital signs. Their wrist-worn device calculates a daily “recovery score” based on your HRV, resting heart rate, and sleep quality, then suggests how hard you should push yourself that day.

“Muscle oxygen is the new heart rate when it comes to effective sports training,” says Ken Nakata, Athletic Time Machine Founder. “Humon changes the game by making it a simple and effective tool.”

For coaches managing teams, these vital signs serve as an early warning system. When an athlete’s morning HRV suddenly drops or their resting heart rate spikes, it might signal the onset of illness, overtraining, or even psychological stress—all factors that increase injury risk. By catching these red flags early, coaches can adjust training loads before small problems become big ones.

Sleep tracking has become another frontier in recovery monitoring. Devices like the Oura Ring don’t just track how long you sleep—they analyze your sleep stages, including precious REM and deep sleep phases that are critical for physical and mental recovery. A 2019 study found the Oura ring could even detect menstruation and fertility windows with up to 87% sensitivity by tracking subtle temperature fluctuations during sleep.

For everyday athletes, these insights help answer a crucial daily question: “Should I go hard today, or focus on recovery?” Rather than blindly following a training plan that doesn’t know how your body feels, you can make informed decisions based on what your body is actually telling you.

Want to dive deeper into how artificial intelligence is changing these analytics? Check out our article on AI in sports and how technology is changing the game.

Motion & Biomechanics Wearables: Decode Technique

While GPS and heart rate monitors tell us where athletes go and how hard they work, biomechanical sensors reveal something even more fascinating – exactly how they move. And let’s be honest, that’s often the difference between good and great performance.

Wearable sports technology in the biomechanics field typically relies on clever little devices called Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). These compact powerhouses contain three key sensors working together:

Accelerometers that measure linear acceleration in three dimensions
Gyroscopes that detect rotational movement
Magnetometers that provide orientation relative to Earth’s magnetic field

When strategically placed on an athlete’s body, these sensors capture movement patterns with incredible precision. The high-end systems are mind-blowing – sampling movement at over 20,000 data points per second across more than 250 variables. That’s a level of detail the human eye simply can’t match!

What makes these systems truly valuable is their ability to measure performance metrics that matter. Jump height and power shows exactly how explosive an athlete is from takeoff to landing. Ground contact time reveals how long feet stay on the ground during running – crucial for sprinters looking to shave milliseconds. Stride length and frequency break down the components of running speed, while joint angles measure range of motion during sport-specific movements.

Perhaps most importantly, these devices can spot movement symmetry issues – subtle imbalances between limbs that often precede injuries. They can also quantify impact forces during landing or collisions, helping coaches manage the physical toll on athletes’ bodies.

For injury prevention, these motion sensors are game-changers. They can identify subtle movement pattern changes that often signal trouble ahead – like decreased knee flexion during landing or asymmetrical loading between legs that might indicate increased ACL injury risk. By catching these warning signs early, coaches can implement corrective exercises before injuries happen, not after.

In rehabilitation settings, these sensors provide what athletes and trainers desperately need – objective proof of progress. “A lot of it has to do with what we are doing in the training room,” explains Kevin Cahill about accelerated ACL recovery times. Rather than guessing if an athlete is truly ready to return, these sensors verify when normal movement patterns have been restored.

For technically demanding sports like golf, swimming, or baseball pitching, motion sensors provide immediate feedback that transforms practice. Imagine sensors embedded in a baseball bat measuring swing path, bat speed, and attack angle – allowing hitters to make real-time adjustments based on hard data rather than just “feel.”

As Lauren Calabrese, a sports performance specialist, wisely notes: “I’m collaborating with sports medicine, we are working with our sports performance coach, a sports psychologist and nutritionist. It’s very holistic in the sense that decisions aren’t being made in a vacuum.”

That collaborative approach, powered by biomechanical data from wearable sports technology, is revolutionizing how athletes train, recover, and perform at every level of competition.

Biochemical & Recovery Wearables: Inside the Muscles

Ever wondered what’s actually happening inside your muscles during that final set of squats or last sprint to the finish line? The newest frontier in wearable sports technology takes us beyond external measurements and gives us a peek under the hood at the biochemical level.

These cutting-edge devices are like having a tiny lab strapped to your body, revealing what was previously invisible to athletes and coaches alike.

The Humon Hex has changed the game as “the first clinically validated muscle oxygen tracker that allows athletes, sports teams, and performance labs to optimize workout intensities, minimize injury, and monitor progress.” Rather than guessing when you’ve hit your lactate threshold or relying on painful finger-prick tests, these sensors use near-infrared light to see right through your skin and measure oxygen levels in working muscles in real time.

Similarly, the Moxy sensor helps endurance athletes find that sweet spot where they’re working hard enough to improve but not so hard they’ll crash and burn. It’s like having a fuel gauge for your muscles.

“A device like Swemax can not only save your life when you’re in the mountains but can help all endurance athletes both during training and in competitions,” says endurance champion Nico Valsesia. When you’re miles from anywhere, knowing your exact hydration status isn’t just about performance—it could be a matter of safety.

Speaking of sweat, those little patches that look like fancy band-aids? They’re actually tiny chemical labs analyzing your perspiration. As one manufacturer cleverly puts it: “A drop of sweat contains information similar to a drop of blood, but until now, no one knew how to extract that information.” These smart patches can tell you when you’re running low on sodium or potassium during a hot training session, helping you avoid the dreaded cramp or bonk.

For the truly dedicated (or perhaps slightly crazy), there are even core temperature pills you can swallow that transmit your internal body temperature as they pass through your system. Talk about commitment to the data!

What makes these biochemical insights so valuable is how personalized they are. Two athletes might look identical on paper based on their heart rates and GPS data, but their internal biochemistry could tell completely different stories. One might be cruising comfortably while the other is redlining their system—information that’s absolutely crucial for coaches designing training programs.

The proof is in the results. Lehigh football player who cut his ACL recovery time in half? Muscle oxygen monitoring played a key role in his comeback, helping his rehab team see exactly how his tissues were responding to each exercise and adjust accordingly.

Nutritionist biologist Chiara Gitto sums it up perfectly: “Being able to constantly monitor what’s happening in our body is, in my opinion, fantastic.” And fantastic it is—these devices are bringing lab-quality measurements into the real world of training and competition, helping athletes understand not just what they’re doing, but how their bodies are responding at the deepest levels.

The biochemical wearable revolution is still in its early days, with research on sweat analysis continuing to expand what we can learn from these non-invasive methods. As these technologies become more affordable and widespread, expect to see them transform not just elite sports but everyday fitness as well.

Smartwatches & AI Platforms: All-In-One Hubs

Remember when fitness trackers just counted steps? Those days are long gone! Today’s smartwatches and rings have transformed into sophisticated command centers that put professional-level wearable sports technology right on your wrist.

Devices like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Garmin Forerunner series, and the sleep-tracking Oura Ring have packed an impressive array of sensors into increasingly sleek packages. Your average smartwatch now contains optical heart rate monitors, motion sensors, GPS, temperature gauges, blood oxygen readers, and bioimpedance sensors—all working together to create a complete picture of your body’s response to training.

But the real magic happens behind the scenes. These devices connect to powerful AI platforms that transform all those numbers into something actually useful. Instead of drowning in data, you get insights that make sense.

“You’re not guessing anymore,” explains one coach who works with collegiate athletes. “It’s data-based and numbers-based, which helps athletes buy in because they can see the results right in front of them.”

These AI systems are surprisingly sophisticated. They can spot patterns in your training that you’d never notice yourself, like how that Thursday evening soccer practice always leaves you dragging on Friday mornings. They’ll suggest when to push harder and when to back off based on your recovery status. Some can even flag subtle changes in your movement patterns that might signal an injury brewing.

WHOOP has pioneered this approach with its color-coded recovery scoring. Wake up to a green recovery score, and you’re good to tackle that tough workout. See red, and maybe it’s time for some active recovery instead. This simple system helps athletes avoid the classic trap of pushing too hard on days when their bodies aren’t ready.

What’s really remarkable is how these devices have democratized sports science. The same technology that elite teams pay thousands for is now available to weekend warriors for a fraction of the cost. A high school runner can now track their training load with nearly the same precision as an Olympic athlete.

For coaches managing teams, these platforms offer invaluable overviews. Imagine seeing at a glance which players slept poorly, which ones are showing signs of fatigue, and which are primed for peak performance. This bird’s-eye view helps coaches make smarter decisions about practice intensity and player rotations.

“I’m collaborating with sports medicine, working with our performance coach, psychologist, and nutritionist,” one collegiate strength coach explains. “The data helps us make decisions as a team rather than in a vacuum.”

The beauty of these systems is their connectivity. Most can export data to specialized coaching software, creating comprehensive athlete profiles that combine inputs from multiple devices. This interconnected approach enables what sports scientists call a “holistic understanding” of performance—seeing how sleep, stress, nutrition, and training all influence each other.

For more information about cutting-edge devices entering the market, check out our detailed guide to cutting-edge wearable technology.

As wearable sports technology continues to evolve, these smart devices are becoming indispensable training partners—providing the guidance athletes need to train smarter, not just harder.

Challenges, Ethics & Future Trends in Wearable Sports Technology

Let’s be honest – as amazing as wearable sports technology is, it’s not all smooth sailing. There are some real problems to overcome before we reach wearable nirvana.

Technical Challenges

Ever notice how your fitness tracker says you burned 400 calories but your friend’s device claims it was 300? That’s the accuracy problem in action. Consumer devices still struggle with precision, especially when you’re going all-out in that HIIT session.

And don’t get me started on battery life! Nothing kills your motivation faster than seeing “Low Battery” halfway through your long run. Most advanced sensors need frequent charging, which makes 24/7 monitoring a pipe dream for many athletes.

Comfort is another issue – some sensors feel like you’re strapping a small computer to your body (because, well, you are). Try executing the perfect tennis serve with a bulky sensor on your racket arm!

Perhaps most frustrating is how these devices often don’t play nice with each other. Your Garmin watch, Whoop strap, and Moxy sensor all collect fantastic data, but getting them to talk to each other? That’s a technical headache even IT professionals dread.

Ethical and Privacy Concerns

When it comes to the data these devices collect, we’re in somewhat uncharted territory. Think about it – who actually owns your heart rate variability data? Is it you, the team that paid for the device, or the company that made it?

Professional athletes face particularly thorny questions. Imagine your contract negotiations where the team pulls up your biometric data showing you recovered slower than teammates. Or worse, what if that sensitive health data gets leaked?

Biomedical researcher Dhruv Seshadri raises another important concern: “Men’s sports are funded at twice the rate compared to women’s sports, and that financial inequity means there’s a lack of resources and technology that can be used for monitoring.” This tech divide threatens to widen the gap between men’s and women’s sports even further.

Regulatory Landscape

If you think the rules of basketball are complicated, try keeping up with the regulations around wearable tech!

The NCAA has specific rules about when athletes can use tracking devices (generally yes for practice, mostly no for games). Professional leagues each have their own stance – the NBA allows limited use during games while MLB is more restrictive. International competitions like the Olympics have entirely different rulebooks about what tech is permitted.

These inconsistent regulations make it challenging for athletes who train with wearables but then must compete without them, disrupting their normal feedback loops.

Future Trends

Despite these challenges, the future of wearable sports technology looks incredibly bright. Here’s what has me most excited:

Smart fabrics are going to change everything. Imagine your regular training shirt or socks with sensors woven right into the fabric – no more straps or pods to attach! Companies are already developing these e-textiles that feel just like normal clothes.

Biochemical sensing is about to get wild. Future wearables won’t just track your heart rate; they’ll monitor your hormones, nutrient levels, and metabolites in real-time. This means you’ll know exactly when to fuel, when to push, and when to rest based on your body’s actual biochemistry.

AI coaching systems will transform how we learn sports techniques. Rather than just collecting data, these systems will provide real-time feedback: “Your elbow is dropping on your tennis serve” or “You’re overstriding on your run.” It’s like having a coach with you 24/7.

One of the most promising developments is an ultrathin cardiac patch that can perform ultrasound imaging right on your skin. This could revolutionize how we monitor heart function during intense exercise without bulky equipment.

The biggest challenge moving forward isn’t collecting more data – it’s making sense of it all. As Seshadri wisely notes: “There’s still a lack of actionable insight that can be gleaned from the data. What does that mean in the context of what the athlete is doing?”

That’s the million-dollar question. The future belongs to the platforms that can turn this data tsunami into simple, actionable advice that actually helps you perform better.

Frequently Asked Questions about wearable sports technology

How precise are consumer wearables compared to pro-grade units?

The gap between what pro athletes use and what the rest of us can buy has narrowed dramatically, but some important differences remain.

When it comes to GPS tracking, the devices pros wear typically pinpoint location within about 1 meter, while your smartwatch might be off by 3-5 meters. That might not matter for your weekend jog, but it makes a huge difference when analyzing exactly how a soccer player covers the field.

Professional systems also capture movement with incredible detail – sometimes collecting 20,000+ data points every second! Your fitness tracker might grab 100-200 points in that same time. Think of it like comparing a professional camera to a smartphone – both take pictures, but one captures far more detail.

Heart rate monitoring shows similar differences. The chest straps common in professional settings still beat wrist-based optical sensors during intense workouts when your arms are pumping and sweat is flowing.

The good news? For most of us weekend warriors, consumer devices provide plenty of accuracy to guide effective training. Each new generation brings professional-grade features to mainstream devices, and that trend shows no signs of slowing down.

Can athletes refuse to share biometric data with teams?

This question sits at the intersection of technology, privacy rights, and power dynamics in sports – and the answer varies widely depending on the context.

For professional athletes, contracts often include language requiring participation in team monitoring programs. When millions of dollars are invested in player salaries, teams want to protect those investments with data-driven approaches to health and performance. Still, the specifics of how that data gets used should be clearly defined.

College athletes face a murkier situation. NCAA guidelines increasingly address biometric data collection, but policies vary dramatically between institutions. As one ethics researcher notes: “Until a governance council is formed, universities should discourage sharing biometric data without explicit athlete consent.”

Youth and amateur athletes generally have stronger rights to refuse monitoring, though this choice might affect playing time decisions – creating subtle pressure to participate.

No matter the level, athletes should ask important questions about their data:
– Who can access my information?
– How long will it be stored?
– Could it affect my contract or scholarship?
– Can I see my own complete data?

The gold standard remains clear informed consent, with athletes fully understanding how their most personal biological information will be used.

What metrics best predict overtraining or injury?

Finding the warning signs before injuries happen is the holy grail of wearable sports technology, and research has identified several promising indicators.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) stands out as a powerful predictor. When morning HRV readings consistently drop below your baseline, it often signals your body is struggling to recover – a classic overtraining warning sign.

Similarly, if your resting heart rate jumps 5+ beats above normal when you wake up, your body might be telling you it needs more recovery time before another hard workout.

Movement patterns offer another window into injury risk. Increasing differences between left and right limbs – like one leg absorbing more landing force than the other – often precede injuries.

The relationship between recent and historical workloads matters too. The Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio measures how your current training compares to what you’ve been doing over the past month. Sudden spikes in this ratio correlate strongly with increased injury risk.

Don’t overlook the basics either – sleep quality metrics and simple wellness questionnaires about how you’re feeling remain surprisingly effective predictors.

Most experts recommend combining both objective data and subjective feedback for the most accurate picture. As one sports scientist explains: “Decisions aren’t being made in a vacuum. I’m collaborating with sports medicine, we are working with our sports performance coach, a sports psychologist and nutritionist.”

This holistic approach – using technology to improve rather than replace human judgment – represents the true power of wearable sports technology in keeping athletes healthy and performing at their best.

Conclusion

Wearable sports technology has transformed athletics in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a decade ago. From tracking every step with GPS to peering inside working muscles, these devices have given us a window into human performance that’s changing how we train, compete, and recover.

The days of coaches relying on gut feelings and athletes training by perceived effort are fading fast. As strength coach Kevin Cahill puts it: “You’re not guessing, it’s data-based and numbers-based.” This shift to evidence-based training has not only boosted performance across sports but has also played a crucial role in keeping athletes healthier by flagging potential injuries before they happen.

But we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. As sensors become smaller, more comfortable, and more precise—and as AI gets better at making sense of all this data—we’re entering an era of truly personalized training. Imagine workout plans that automatically adjust based on your sleep quality, recovery status, and even your specific biomechanics.

At SportsNews4You, we’re most excited about how these professional-grade insights are becoming available to everyday athletes. The technology that was once reserved for Olympic training centers can now be worn on your wrist or tucked into your running shorts. That said, this data revolution comes with responsibility—we need thoughtful approaches to privacy, athlete consent, and making sure everyone has equal access to these game-changing tools.

Having mountains of data isn’t the competitive advantage—it’s knowing what to do with it. The most successful athletes and coaches aren’t necessarily those with the most sensors, but those who ask the right questions of their data and take meaningful action. As sports scientists often remind us, the technology doesn’t tell you what to do—it helps you ask better questions.