A good night’s sleep

E

nsuring professional athletes rest and recover properly has been taken

to a new level by a partnership between National Basketball Association (NBA) team Dallas Mavericks and US-based “performance bedding” specialist Bedgear.

 Each system is designed to fit the athlete’s body

Bedgear has worked with all Mavericks players and members of coaching staff to provide personalised performance sleep systems with specially-designed bedding and pillows to fit each athlete’s sleep position and body frame. This is a first for a basketball team – whose members are traditionally

taller than average. Each system has been researched in order to find an ideal fabric for a player’s needs, along with the best size, thickness, fluffiness and firmness. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, said: “We’re always looking for innovators that will help enhance the Mavs’ performance – whether it’s physical, mental or some combination of both. “Sleep is such an important part of an athlete’s life, especially when we travel and have back-to-back games, and I’m excited to see how the guys react to the products and programme.” l www.bedgear.com

Professional tracking for grassroots players

A

Netherlands-based tech startup aims to make professional-level

performance data accessible for all amateur football players by combining a wearable tracker with a mobile app. DashTag is based on players wearing a small sensor,

 Epco Berger, DashTag CEO

which measures real-time biomechanical and positional

friends via social media – in

data such as speed, mileage,

the same way that professional

time, acceleration, energy

players are able to.

level and position. The DashTag

“Sport engagement will

mobile app then connects with

rapidly change – technology

the sensor, recovers the data

will connect the sport stats

and displays it in an easy-to-

and relevant info of each

understand format.

individual player at every level,”

Players can analyse, compare

said DashTag CEO and founder

and share their performance

Epco Berger. “With DashTag we

indicators and scores with

want to play a leading role.”

fellow players, coaches and

The DashTag app allows players to share scores and performance indicators with teammates and coaches

DashTag recently secured seed investment of

Sport engagement at an amateur level will rapidly change over the coming years sportsmanagement.co.uk

€250,000 following a successful campaign on l www.getdashtag.com

Issue 128  November/December 2016 75