How Training and Technology are Shaping Modern American Football

A Brief History of the Game

American Football traces its origins back to 1869 when Rutgers and Princeton, two American colleges, played the first intercollegiate football game. The match was based on modified set of rules, from the London Football Association, making the game much closer to soccer than what we recognize as modern American football. This event marked the beginning of a trend where colleges played against each other in organized matches.

The game and its practices underwent  multiple stages of evolution, as different colleges adopted new rules, creating a need for standardized regulations. As rugby gained popularity, it began to influence the style of play, transitioning from soccer inspired play to a more rugby like   approach which laid the foundation for the evolution of American Football.

Walter Camp, known as the “Father of American football,” formalized several core characteristics of the game, such as the system of downs and line of scrimmage, and he gradually steered the game from brute strength, which often resulted in violence, to strategy and tactics. Then, American football reached the "professional" era with the practice of paying athletes becoming more common.  After decades of competition two major leagues, the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) merged in 1966, leading to the first Super Bowl in 1967.

As the game evolved, new rules were introduced regarding contracts (like free agency) as well as player safety. In 1994, the league formally started looking at long-term health impacts like concussions,  as results of advancements in medical imaging technologies and awareness of head injuries. Since then, technology has been an important catalyst in improving, not just athlete safety standards but performance as well. 

The Physics of the Perfect Play

American football which heavily relies on the principle of physics, has evolved from soccer and rugby,  has gone through multiple transformations in the last one and a half century. Key elements such as force, motion, accuracy and timing are crucial for creating game winning moments and executing perfect plays that turn the tide of the games.

Force is critical aspects of sports, influencing tackles, throws and maneuvers. However, it, must be directed optimally for maximum impact. The angle for a tackle or a trajectory throw are key examples where force is effectively applied. In defensive plays, the force used to jump to intercept a pace or to disrupt the momentum of an upcoming quarterback must be precisely channeled to achieve the desired results. Working in tandem with precise timing and proper direction can create winning plays.

Accuracy is the core characteristic of most winning throws. Accurate speed, spin, and release influence everything from trajectory to interception chances. Accuracy is also dependent on a quarterback's ability to perceive the field and the position of his/her receiver. The ability to quickly adjust positions, angles, and postures also play a crucial role.

When all these elements – force, motion, timing and accuracy – are perfectly aligned, the probability and frequency of executing successful plays increase.

Building a Winning Team: Training and Preparation

Building a winning team is more than just about getting the best players together under one banner. With sufficient resources, it can recruit a top talent, however even the best players are inefficient if they are not trained to work and play as a team. As numerous coaches in the history of this beautiful game have proven, training and preparation areas critical to success as raw talent.

The training can be divided into multiple facets, but the most significant ones are strength, conditioning, and mental preparation. 
●    Physical conditioning is the broadest domain within football training and preparation and covers everything from strength to stamina that an athlete needs to succeed in this game. 
●    Mental training and preparation are also considered vital to building a winning team. Mental fortitude and the ability to process information and make quick decisions under pressure have long been the hallmarks of exceptional players and coaches in American football, and even if they had the predisposition for it, extensive training and preparation were used to enhance this ability.

The Evolution of Training Methods

As coaches and players deepened their understanding about the factors that contribute to performance, training methods evolved to deliver better results. Conventional training focused more on drills and running set plays, allowing players to familiarize with scenarios and learn how to respond in the field when faced with similar or comparable situations. While these methods still vital part of the training, the integration of the advanced data analytics, sensors and tools  has transformed the practices and game landscape.

Data-driven training leverages a wide range of data sets, this includes biomechanical data, which tracks, exact motions and angles of player's bodies during different plays, such as their form, gait, and techniques. Combined with the player's physiological and historical performance data, enables the development of tailored training programs/regimens for individual players. Analyzing these data sets can be used to create more granular training programs, enhancing a team's strengths and reducing or even eliminating their weaknesses.

In-Game Dynamics: Split-Second Decisions and Precision Execution

Adaptability is a core strength that football players and coaches must possess so they can positively react to the changing situations on the field while maintaining the skills, knowledge, developed via training. Though It’s an individual trait, with proper cohesion and training, it can become a defining characteristic of the entire team.

Adaptability also involves making quick and decisive choices. Whether It is a coach adjusting the tempo, switch plays, or change formations, or a quarterback making a split-second decision to release the ball early.

Precision is crucial in multiple game aspects and can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Precise passes lead to high completion rates and increase the probability of success.

On the defensive angle, precise tackles can dramatically impact on turning the tide of the game. Well executed tackles not only disrupt offensive momentum but also create opportunities for turnovers.

Advanced Technology in Football: Enhancing the Player and Fan Experience

Technological advances and wearable technology in sport are transforming American Football, particularly in the areas of player safety and performance analysis. This includes sensors in helmets, pads, and the ball itself.

●    Helmet sensors can offer valuable data on the location and intensity of an impact in case of a collision, and some can even detect a concussion. This data can be augmented or cross-referenced with the information provided by mouthguards with sensors that track a broader array of head injuries. 
●    Pad sensors, such as RFID tags on shoulder pads (and between shoulder blades) track players’ speed, location, and center mass during plays, offering insights that benefits safety and performance. 
●    Wearables and other sensors offer a wealth of biomechanics and physiological data to coaches and medical professionals to track performance and prevent injury.  
●    Ball sensors monitor position, acceleration, and force of impact, even if it’s obscured by players, assisting officials with accurate calls.

With advanced sensors and wearable, sports are becoming safer for athletes and more engaging for fans, the real time data empowers coaches to make decisions like switching players and strategies to turn the tide of the game and as well prevent long-term injuries.

SmartMotion®: Elevating Performance Through Precision Motion Tracking

One breakthrough technology that can further transform American football is SmartMotion® (created by InvenSense, a TDK group company). The company is a pioneer in motion sensing solutions and capturing accurate motion-related data with high accuracy and minimal resource drainage (power). SmartMotion® is a series of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).

MEMS is a general term for systems that are capable of converting mechanical data (movement, pressure, speed, etc.) into electrical signals that can be recorded and transmitted at wafer level. The “Micro” is relevant because it makes these systems small and power-efficient enough to be used in wearables and a variety of other use cases. IMU refers to measuring systems that focus on a specific body’s movements across three physical dimensions. Practically speaking, most IMUs calculate two things - acceleration and angular velocity and have the relevant sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope) for the job.

This is what most six-axis SmartMotion® systems do as well. The six-axis refers to three axes (X, Y, and Z), each for acceleration and angular velocity. There are nine-axis systems as well that also keep track of the earth's magnetic field to get a more accurate picture of the body's orientation against a reference direction (like the earth's surface).

How SmartMotion® Enhances Athletic Performance in Football

The SmartMotion® systems can be used with or as wearables, transmitting relevant data about an athlete’s movements. This can be used in both training and actual games to generate relevant insights like catch detection and how well a football kick is executed. When worn on the wrist, these systems can give accurate information about the force/speed and angle of the ball's spin that can be measured against how well that throw performed. Similarly, they can offer more data on the kicking motion than what cameras can provide, like precise changes in the foot angle between kicks that went through and the ones that didn't (overshoot or undershoot). It can help track the catching angles for receivers in various conditions, as well as acceleration, deceleration, and cutting angles during runs and right after avoiding a tackle.

These systems can generate other useful data and insights as well that may allow coaches, players, and other stakeholders to make smarter and more impactful decisions for their performance and health. Check here how Sensor in American football can help the game.

Conclusion

From rudimentary sensors to sophisticated systems like the ones developed by SmartMotion®, various technologies are reshaping American Football. The impact goes far beyond fewer injuries and new exercises. Technology can fundamentally change how football training is conducted, the nature of various plays, and individual player tactics. The right technology may allow coaches to push the boundaries of what the best athletes can achieve, making the competition fiercer and the spectacle more attractive.