Ok

2. What is Technology?
This is what the dictionary says:
Technology
(noun)
Meaning: using knowledge and skills of science and industries to create
devices, machines or systems that provide a solution to a problem.
From the Greek words tekhnologia meaning systematic treatment and
tekhnē meaning art and skill.
Plural -gies.
Derived forms: technological (adjective), technologically (adverb),
technologist (noun).

3. What role does technology play in
sports?
The technology we use in our everyday life is constantly changing due to
research and development of creative ideas.
It is not surprising that the use of technology in sports is increasing.
Innovative products are constantly being tested and tried out in almost
every sport at elite level to develop the game or improve the experience
for spectators.
New technologies are improving the comfort, safety and performance of
athletes too.

4. How has technology changed football?
Football stadiums
The football industry embraces new technology to develop the game and
the experience for the fans.
Some of the technological advancements and the changes they have
made in the industry are obvious.
QR codes on tickets
Ball design and manufacturing
Artificial surfaces
Latest football boot design
What might not be so obvious is the technology used during the football match.

5. What technology is used in football that
might not be seen by the spectators?
Some of the more hidden technology being used in a game of football
might include:
Video Assisted Referee (VAR) Goal Line Technology (GLT)
Electronic Performance and Tracking System (EPTS)

6. What is VAR?
VAR stands for Video Assistant Referee.
Have you ever been playing a
match and an incident occurs but
you can’t decide what happened
or who was at fault?
It would be so helpful to be able to
go back in time and look again in
more detail.
VAR allows this to happen!

7. How does VAR improve the game?
The role of the referee is very demanding.
Referees are highly trained but in
such a fast-moving game with
multiple players on a vast pitch, it
is likely that some of the action is
missed. This is when VAR can
support the referee to make the
correct call on game-changing
incidents.

8. How does VAR work?
Multiple cameras around the stadium record all the action on the pitch.
An incident occurs!
1) The referee will let the VAR team know or they
will let the referee know. The VAR team
communicate with the referee throughout the
match and can confirm if the right decisions
have been made. VAR will replay the action using
lots of screens to see what is happening from
different angles. They can review an incident in
slow motion, frame by frame, so the actions are
clear.
2) The referee will be informed via their headset of
what the VAR can see in the video.
3) The referee will use the information from the
VAR to make a decision, however, the referee
might decide to review the footage for themselves
before making a call.

9. When is VAR used?
Click on the text for the picture to appear and then click again for it to
disappear.
Goals
Red Cards
Penalties
Identify Players
VAR can be used to check whether an
infringement should stop a goal from being
awarded.
VAR can be used to check whether to award
a penalty kick.
VAR can be used to take a more detailed
look at an incident before a red card is
given.
VAR can be used to identify players that are
involved in an incident and need to be
sanctioned.

10. What is GLT?
GLT stands for Goal Line Technology.
Have you ever tried to shoot the
ball into a goal but not been sure
if the ball got over the goal line?
It would be so helpful to be able to
digitally alert the referee if the
whole of the ball has crossed the
goal line.
GLT allows this to happen!

11. How does GLT improve the game?
Referees do their very best to make the correct decision using the
information they have, but occasionally, errors are made.
You can imagine how frustrating this must feel to the team, their fans as
well as the referee.
Goal Line Technology is a digital way of tracking the position of the ball.
There has been many cases in football where the referee made a call on
whether a goal should be awarded, only for television replay to reveal
that the decision was wrong.
The technology is fast! The
referee will receive the alert
within one second so they
can give an immediate
response to the teams and
fans.

12. How does GLT work?
• Cameras installed high in the stadium can follow a smartball that
contains sensors. This system uses computer software to detect the
movement of the ball and will alert the referee when the whole ball
has crossed the goal line.
• Magnets placed underground and around the goal can detect when a
ball with receptors passes through the magnetic field and over the
goal line. This software will calculate the position of the ball and
alert the referee.
There are a few different technologies that can be used to track the ball
during the match using cameras or magnetic fields.

13. What is EPTS?
This is wearable technology either
in the form of a chest belt or a
tight shirt that has sensors to
record data about the players.
EPTS stands for Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems.

14. What data can EPTS track?
• Position on the pitch throughout the match;
• Movement through the game and training like their speed and steps;
• Physical condition, such as their temperature and heart rate.
It can track a player’s:

15. What does EPTS improve football?
The data can help me to reduce injuries in players
and keep players in good health.
The data collected from each player can used to look at performance,
tactics and the health of players.
Click on the coach and doctor to find out more.
I can use the information from EPTS to select
substitutions during a match and give players
targeted training to improve their performance. I will
also review games after the match to help us build
strategies for future games.
New technologies in football as becoming more important than ever to
collect large amounts of data related to the performance and wellbeing
of football players.

16. Maybe the next time you are watching a football
match, you might spot some of the technology
working to improve the beautiful game.
Could you see yourself playing a role in the
development of football in the future?

17. What STEM careers are there in football?
Many young boys and girls aspire to become a professional football
player, however, there are many STEM job opportunities within football
too and new roles are constantly being created as technology advances.
Could you see yourself becoming:
• A data analyser reading EPTS to enhance players' tactics?
• A mathematician researching the perfect football?
• An engineer improving stadium safety?
• A web developer designing an impressive football club website?
• A biomechanics researcher helping how to develop players?
• A broadcast engineer bringing the game to the fans at home?
• A material designer developing performance enhancing sports
clothing?
• A nutritionist improving player health?
• A sports scientist looking at how the body performs during
exercise to suggest how to improve performance?