Tech’s Influence on Sports Should Be Minimized

Technology has been a part of sports for over 50 years and its impact on each sport over time has been critical. According to, technology has taken part in sporting events since 1964. The influence has affected the laws of each sport, changing substantial aspects across professional leagues. One example of recently created technology is GLT (Goal-Line Technology), which has affected the game of soccer significantly. The outcomes of many matches have been changed because of the power of technology. As a Tottenham Hotspur fan, I saw on many occasions this season, where a game had been altered by the GLT or VAR (Video Assistant Referee). In many ways, technology heavily affect games, such as the Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester City game in August. Two of biggest teams in the Premier League battle for a higher ranking, GLT/VAR changed the game in favor of Tottenham as they allowed controversial goal in for the team.

For sports such as rugby and swimming, video technology has helped referees get a better understanding of close plays. In swimming, a dive cam is used to record the motions the diver to aid the scoring. Similar to refs in soccer, rugby referees and judges use versions of goal line technology to determine outcomes. Radar guns have become one of the most useful innovations in sports. In golf, radar guns measure the swing speed, and in tennis, the serve speed of the player. Not to mention sports such as baseball, softball, and cricket, which all have some version of throwing, in which radar guns can measure the speed of a throw.

Technology plays a prominent and vast role across all sports, but why should it be limited? Technology is an advancement for all sports, but athletes have found wicked and wrongful ways to take advantage of it. To what point do we allow technology to become an immoral factor among sports? In the 2017-18 season of Major League Baseball (MLB), The Houston Astros illegally stole signs from opponents using the power of technology. Through technology, the Astros stole signs illegally by intercepting communications between the opposing team’s field players and relaying the information to the batter of the Astros. The scandals have caused many problems for the Astros organization, MLB, and forced fans to question the use of technology in the game. Many are questioning the purpose of technology’s use in sports, outside of just reviewing and recording plays. Technology could be problematic as not everyone is honest.

So, how does one know whom to trust? We must be sure that we are using technology for the right reasons. For example, in track meets or races, times of runners can be altered to a better time to qualify for or win a race. When it comes to swimming, technology is used to design and depict a more modernized swimsuit that is hydrodynamic and more suitable for its wearer. It is possible that technology gives an unfair advantage to those who use this kind of technology.

Is it possible for technology to even the playing field for every athlete that plays a sport? Probably not. Not every athlete is available to use modern technology to improve his or her game. Students at public schools are not able to share the same technology as students at IMG Academy. Another example is the DribbleUp soccer ball, which allows its user to see his or her training statistics and each athlete could improve his or her skills. This $90 soccer ball is expensive, creating a disadvantage for those who cannot afford such an item like this.

In all, technology has helped sports advance in unthinkable ways, but because athletes feel like they need any advantage over their opponents, technology has hurt each league’s ability to keep the playing field fair. Maybe it is time to turn back the clocks and play games how they were meant to be played.