VR in sport and VR in general
The concept of virtual reality (VR) has been mostly familiar to us from video games. As games became more realistic and approached near-reality, marketing experts came up with the idea to transfer games from virtual reality to sports fields. Initially, there were various sports-themed games, but sports experts wanted to see if they could use this technology to train athletes and improve their performance. Virtual reality has thus become an indispensable technology in professional sports, and it is now widely used in football, hockey, tennis, and now also in handball. There are many areas where VR can be applied in sports, including:
Training and skill development
Training and match simulation:
Virtual reality allows athletes to face real game scenarios in a virtual environment. For example, players can practice specific tactical situations without physical exhaustion or the risk of injury. By using virtual reality, athletes can train reflexes, reactions, and decision-making in controlled conditions.
Psychological preparation:
Virtual reality enables athletes to mentally rehearse their performance by going through competition scenarios, helping them better prepare for the pressure and stress of the actual competition.
Game and data analysis
VR systems allow coaches and players to analyze matches from different perspectives. Key moments of the game can be replayed, allowing for thorough analysis of positioning, movement, and opponent strategies.