The Adoption of Modern Sports Technologies from Professional Settings to Everyday Life

Abstract

This study examines how advanced sports technologies, initially designed for elite athletes, are being applied in everyday contexts. Despite the proliferation of wearable and AI-powered tools, the sports management literature has largely overlooked how these innovations transition from professional use to consumer settings. Addressing this gap, the article evaluates key technologies based on cost, complexity, accessibility, and user-friendliness to determine their viability for broader adoption. The findings reveal a clear divide: while affordable, intuitive devices like WHOOP bands and Polar monitors are well-suited for general use, complex systems such as SportVU and VALD remain limited to elite environments. This study underscores simplicity, affordability, and contextual usability as critical enablers of adoption. By connecting theoretical innovation models with real-world patterns, this research offers practical guidance for developers, educators, and policymakers seeking to promote equitable access to sports technologies.