Out With The Clipboard, In With Technology: How Basketball Coaching Has Evolved
Sports are more popular than ever before, with athletes pushing themselves to become faster, stronger and more skillful than competitors of the past. Basketball is no exception, and today it’s a billion dollar industry with fans all around the world.
To keep up with the demand, coaching has had to evolve too. Following a player around with a clipboard and just bellowing from the sidelines is no longer seen as helpful or appropriate. So how do basketball coaches get the best from their players? Here’s a look at some of the latest technology which is giving them a helping hand.
Smart Equipment
If you’re a big basketball fan, you may have had a bet or two over the years on the outcome of a game. If so, you’re not on your own, as Unibet basketball betting is popular.
When placing your bet, you may rely partly on gut instinct but the chances are that you scrutinized the data. The more information you have, the better able you are to judge whether your team is likely to win.
And that approach isn’t confined to betting as basketball coaches have been on a mission in recent years to gather more accurate data about the performance of the players.
One of the ways they achieve this is by using smart balls. Players use them just like a regular ball but the coach receives in-depth information which wouldn’t be available in any other way. The speed of the ball, the degree of rotation and the angle of shots is all tracked and relayed back to the coach via Bluetooth. This enables them to pinpoint the precise areas which can be improved, and any progress being made.
Of course, this feedback is highly sensitive information and not widely available to the public. But just imagine how useful it would be when placing your next basketball bet!
New Approaches for Treatment and Recovery
Injuries can destroy plans for a season, and they’re something that neither a coach nor a player has much control over. A team could have the very best coaches around but if players are plagued by injuries, results will suffer. However, while it’s not possible to completely eradicate the chance of injuries, it is possible to reduce the likelihood and minimize recovery time.
In order to achieve this, coaching staff have embraced new technology in the recovery room. While traditional ice baths and physiotherapy still have a place, cutting edge treatments such as pneumatic recovery are now commonly seen too.
Pneumatic treatments involve pumping air into a large boot or cuff which is worn on the leg. It can cover the whole leg, but basketball players typically wear them up to the knee. This pneumatic treatment delivers a deep massage, moving blood and lymph around effectively. They are commonly used in place of a full cool-down on the court, reducing the incidence of injury and delivering better results.
Accurate Assessments
Although smart equipment provides excellent data and feedback, it’s not the only source of information for coaches.
Historically they may have relied on their own eyes to judge a player’s performance, scribbling some notes about what they saw as they watched training or the game. Modern techniques take this much further with multiple cameras recording every angle of play, enabling it to be scrutinized in depth by a coach.
Modern coaching methods rely on being able to assess every tiny aspect of a player’s performance on the court. Knowing how many shots, rebounds, passes etc and their success rate allows a coach to drill down into the areas which need attention. This wouldn’t be possible with just a pair of eyes and a clipboard. Only by using the best technology and multiple cameras, are coaches able to carry out the accurate assessments that the modern game demands.