Modern-day soccer was established in 1863 when representatives from London clubs and schools met at the Freemason's Tavern to set up shared fundamental rules to control the matches and avoid violence on and beside the playing field. Today, digital transformation opens up new possibilities for monitoring players and matches that may change the game.

Hoffenheim in control of game tactics, skills, and injuries

Hoffenheim’s Football Club from the German league exemplifies the digital transformation of soccer. They use digitization to improve game tactics, develop skills, and avoid injuries. The players have devices that measure how much they have run and how effective their training has been. The coach can see each player’s data in real time: heart rate, speed, etc. If the levels of effort are high, the player can be excused to avoid injuries. The training is completed in distinct digital phases. For example, the club has a 180° screen that reproduces real plays and allows players to improve their peripheral vision in the field.

In daily training Hoffenheim’s technical team, medical team and players stay in touch through an app that lets players mark the areas where they feel pain. This way, physical therapists can prepare exercises more appropriately, and prevent over-taxing players.

TONSSER – LINKEDIN FOR football players

"The next generation for football players." That's how Tonsser describes their recently launched app for football players, offering articles and personal profiles related to the world of football soccer. More than 400.000 players have downloaded Tonsser and created a personal profile, using it much like LinkedIn. But instead, they use it to discover other players and teammates and to learn about essential skills, creativity, player ratings, and voting, the man of the match, etc. The app is also open for clubs and coaches, enabling them to access data and track the team’s and player’s performance.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

Within the digitalization of sports, rarely has a tool been as revolutionary and debated as the video assistant referee. VAR was introduced in March 2016 and approved by IFAB (International Football Association Board) for a trial period of at least two years. It is worth noting that it still not written into the Laws of the Game. The digital technology was introduced to secure a clean and transparent sport and to avoid human error. Paradoxically, VAR may also have a negative impact.

After all, the countless mistakes made by officials making spur-of-the-moment judgments which often have an impact on the outcome of games have always been part of soccer’s nature and entertainment value. Will this human touch disappear with a Video Assistant Referee? And will a lot of time and momentum in live football events be sacrificed by using VAR technology? Many people debating VAR are concerned. Despite the criticism, FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino has expressed his support for introducing VAR at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He aims to make soccer a cleaner and more transparent sport. So perhaps after the games, we'll know more about the true impact of VAR.