Give us a little jump. -We can see instantly how
-the force changes throughout that movement while they're doing it. -Sports have always relied on
-stats to measure performance. -But now, an athlete's
-training can be analyzed in unprecedented detail- -thanks to ultra-sensitive
-trackers and digital data -We can actually see several
-hundred different metrics. -The performance lab at the University
-of Nebraska uses over a dozen different tests -to gather data on an athlete's
-movement and performance. -So these are our GPS and
-inertial measurement units. -What they do is they measure
-their movement on the court or on the field. This is our 1080 sprint. The athletes will perform their sprint -and it will instantaneously
-measure their position -and speed throughout the
-entirety of that run. This is our motion capture system. -With this, we can perform
-any kind of analysis, sport-specific or general, to understand -how the body moves in three
-dimensions through space. -Motion capture is one of
-many cutting edge technologies that have changed the way the health -and performance of athletes
-is tracked. No longer confined -to collegiate and professional
-sports institutions, this tech is being used by people like Dr. Ideus who tests kids as young as eight -to track physical
-development and performance. -The value of gathering data
-on young athletes is really to -try to, you know, have a
-starting point for this picture -that we're gonna paint over
-a long period of development. The data collection -and use of technology wasn't
-really prevalent when I was younger. And now I think the benefit -for younger kids is being
-able to use technology -cross-reference with what the
-coach is trying to tell you -and have them support with
-data, with backed up research -'this is why I'm, I'm coaching
-you the way I'm coaching you.' -But the proliferation of
-data requires a different approach to training. U.S. Olympic team
counselor, Caroline Bracket, says all the new data available to athletes can sometimes reinforce negative thought patterns. -When you're working with
-elite athletes, individuals -who are highly driven,
-sometimes they can put a lot -of pressure on themselves
-regardless of the data. And so when you add the data, -that can cause some
-more anxiety and stress. -Yeah, I think some
-people it can hinder their, -or, you know, maybe a little
-superstitious, you know, -if you don't have that
-good of scores one day. -But I think for me, just
-being able to use it as kind of an objective baseline
of, 'okay, this is where I'm at each day' -and not put too much
-emotional investment in that. -Data collected by
-these tests is protected -by the Family Educational
-Rights and Privacy Act and treated with the same level of privacy -as the student's grades,
-no matter their age and can only be shared when authorized by the student or their parents. Modern sports science provides information that guides physical training, -which in turn ensures
-athletes are performing at the best of their abilities. But for athletes recovering from injury, -the data is essential
-in monitoring recovery -and providing information
-for physical therapy plans that effectively guide the athlete to a safe return to competition. -We try and relate to that
-athlete, 'this is the process,' and that we expect some decline and some gradual change over time. -It's not gonna dictate necessarily
-your performance outcome -in competition. But it's one
-other measure that we can use -to understand how you are maybe
-tolerating the training load or adapting to a certain type of training. There's also that mental side that I think is very important and that you need to create a plan -or a program where you're
-using the two interchangeably to assist the athlete in a holistic way. An athlete is more than just their data. -Those numbers don't dictate
-if you're gonna be a great volleyball player, for example, or a great basketball player, for example. -There's still, you know,
-the skill component of it. If it's used to inform and to enhance a person's performance. -I think that that can be very
-valuable. When it's used in a way that it's penalizing or punitive -or to create a negative
-narrative about a person, I think that can be unhealthy. -Sport science is really
-about answering questions and addressing problems. -It doesn't necessarily
-require any technology. -It is about making sure we're
-getting the right information -to answer these questions and
-communicating with coaches and athletes.