The Sports Technology Awards 2023 | Categories
A Guide To Categories and Criteria
THE SPORTS TECHNOLOGY AWARDS’ CATEGORIES 2023 #OnlyfortheInnovative
THE ‘OSCARS OF SPORTS TECHNOLOGY’ NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU? Spanning elite sports performance, athlete welfare, broadcast, commerce, fan engagement and important industry forces, such as sustainability, The Sports Technology Awards’ categories aim to find and celebrate world class work. Each year, The STA Group reviews The Sports Technology Awards’ categories to ensure they are an outstanding reflection of the key factors influencing the sports industry. Unless otherwise stated, every category is open to organizations of any size, working in any market, country or sports.
CATEGORY CRITERIA The next 14 categories all conform to the following criteria JUDGES WILL REVIEW ENTRIES BASED ON • What is the market for this technology • What need does the entry meet and how does it do so effectively • To what degree is the technology unique and innovative or, where there is competing technology, how is the entry’s technology superior (e.g. easier to use, more accessible, more rigorous etc.) • Does the technology make sound commercial sense (e.g. how scalable is it, what is its potential for growth, to what degree can it disrupt the existing market etc.) • Quantitative and qualitative data supporting the entry (e.g. stats, third-party endorsements etc.) • Can this entry credibly make any claims pertaining to sustainability or environmental positivity
ANALYTICS This celebrates technology which offers end-users outstanding insight or improved returns thanks to the scrutiny of data and statistics. This celebrates technology which offers end-users outstanding insight or improved returns thanks to the scrutiny of data and statistics. Entries are invited from organizations working in any facet of the sports sector, including but not limited to elite performance, team management, participation, fan targeting, broadcast, marketing, commerce, venue management or operations.
APP This celebrates innovative apps in the sports sector which markedly improve the end-user experience in the market(s) being targeted.
ATHLETE COACHING AND PERFORMANCE This celebrates technology which enhances or improves any aspect of performance or performance management of elite athletes, teams, drivers, crew, mariners, riders (cycling, MTB or equestrian), their managers, coaches, trainers, mechanics etc. Please note that organizations creating technology pertaining to mental health/wellness for elite competitors should enter this category.
BETTING This celebrates technology created for or by sports betting businesses, which tangibly improves the end-user experience and/or enables betting company to undertake its work more quickly, innovatively, or cost-effectively.
BLOCKCHAIN AND WEB 3.0 This celebrates blockchain and web 3.0 technologies used in or created for the sports sector. Entries are expected from technology providers, or sports brands which have used such technologies for activation of a team, athlete, governing body, rights holder, broadcaster etc.
BROADCAST This celebrates technology used or created for sports tv, radio, digital broadcast, or streaming/OTT services. Submissions can be for a single programme, series or tournament, or a single technology specifically created for the broadcast sector. Please note that broadcasters which have embraced multiple technologies or have a track record in sustained use of tech-led innovations may also wish to consider entering The Broadcaster of the Year category.
COLLEGE SPORTS This celebrates technology used in or by college sports. Submissions can be for a single programme, university or conference, or a single technology specifically created for the sector. Entries are open to colleges, universities or collegiate conferences, or to technology companies which have created solutions for this market
DIGITAL This celebrates technology that harnesses the power of data to improve the end-user experience, inform or educate its target market better, or inform organizational growth. Entries are invited from B2B and B2C organizations creating electronic tools, systems, devices, and resources for sectors including but not limited to broadcast, social media, online games, esports, multimedia and mobile. Please note that any technology pertaining directly to data analysis should enter the Analytics in Sport category.
EQUIPMENT, APPAREL AND WEARABLES This celebrates innovative sports equipment which enable more effective sports performance. This includes but is not limited to apparel, footwear, gloves; bats, clubs and rackets; wearables inc motion trackers; training and conditioning equipment; bikes, boards, skis, boats and cars and any parts thereof such as tyres, fuel, motors etc. Please note that any technology pertaining to injury¸ such as body, joint and head protection, should NOT enter this category but should submit to Injury Prevention and Recovery.
FAN ENGAGEMENT This celebrates technology which enables better engagement between fans and sports entities of all types.
FITNESS AND PARTICIPATION This celebrates technology which has a measurable impact on promoting, improving, or increasing mainstream participation in sports and/or fitness – as opposed to that which targets elite athletes. Entries are welcome from B2B and B2C organizations, and includes but is not limited to smart gym solutions, innovative fitness hardware (eg stationary bikes, free weights, machines etc), virtual fitness platforms, innovative fitness streaming technologies, VR fitness solutions, virtual coaching and training, etc.
INJURY PREVENTION AND RECOVERY This celebrates technology which prevents injury and / or aids recovery for athletes of all levels.
INNOVATION PRESENTED BY CAPGEMINI This celebrates the best technological innovation in sports. Entries must have been tangibly available no earlier than January 2021). Concepts are ineligible.
MATCH DAY EXPERIENCE This celebrates technology, or the use of technology, positively affecting match day experience for fans, or the commercial operations of a club, tournament, sports organization, venue or sponsor. Entries are expected from companies including but not limited to, CRM, data management, F&B, hospitality, payment services, retail, telecoms, ticketing etc.
CATEGORY CRITERIA The next four categories all conform to the following criteria JUDGES WILL REVIEW ENTRIES BASED ON • What technology was used, how was it used and how did it have a measurable impact • How far reaching was the work throughout the entering brand’s wider or total output • To what degree was the technology used unique, innovative, disruptive and ground-breaking within the market • Quantitative and qualitative data supporting the entry (e.g. stats and third-party endorsements) • Can this entry credibly make any claims pertaining to sustainability or environmental positivity
BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR This celebrates broadcasters which have embraced multiple technologies or have a track record in sustained use of tech-led innovation across a wide section of their sports output.
TEAM OF THE YEAR This celebrates the team which, thanks to the adoption, use or creation of technology, has shown itself to tangibly improve its work. This improvement can be either in a single, significant area or across its entire jurisdiction or organization.
TOURNAMENT, EVENT OR COMPETITION OF THE YEAR This celebrates tournaments, events or competitions which, thanks to the adoption, use or creation of technology, has shown itself to Improve, tangibly, its proposition for its stakeholders (ie fans, media, broadcast partners, sponsors and competitors). This improvement can be either in a single, significant area or across its entire jurisdiction or organization.
VENUE OF THE YEAR This celebrates venues which, thanks to the adoption, use or creation of technology, has shown itself to tangibly improve its proposition for its stakeholders (ie fans, media, broadcast partners, sponsors, concessions and competitors). This improvement can be either in a single, significant area or across its entire jurisdiction or organization.
CATEGORY CRITERIA The next four categories each have unique criteria. Details for each are given individually.
LEAGUE, FEDERATION OR GOVERNING BODY OF THE YEAR This celebrates the League, Federation or Governing Body which, thanks to the adoption, use or creation of technology, has tangibly improved its work. This improvement can be either in a single, significant area or across its entire organization or jurisdiction.
CATEGORY CRITERIA JUDGES WILL REVIEW ENTRIES BASED ON • What was the strategy behind this entry • How far reaching was the work (i.e. did it encompass sportsmen and women, performance staff, fans, advertisers, rights owners, sponsors, commercial partners or suppliers, the media etc.) • What technology was used, how was it used and how did it have a measurable impact • Quantitative and qualitative data supporting the entry (e.g. stats and third-party endorsements) • Can this entry credibly make any claims pertaining to sustainability or environmental positivity
SPORTS PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR This celebrates tech-led work in sports, involving two or more entities, where a partnership has been created to resolve tangible challenges, or meet and leverage a clear opportunity, either in the area of sports performance or commercial returns.
CATEGORY CRITERIA JUDGES WILL REVIEW ENTRIES BASED ON • What market did this partnership target • What challenges / opportunities in sports did this partnership look to meet / leverage • How innovative, original and effective was the delivery of the partnership • What was the desired outcome of the partnership and to what degree was it successful • How far reaching was the partnership (e.g. sports, markets, volume of users etc.) and what inherent legacies did it leave • Quantitative and qualitative data supporting the entry (e.g. stats and third-party endorsements) • Can this entry credibly make any claims pertaining to sustainability or environmental positivity
START-UP OF THE YEAR This celebrates sports technology startup businesses, operating in any part of the sports sector. Entries are invited from young businesses, in revenue, and whose founders still own at least 70% of the company. Funding status for eligible companies will be seed through to within six months post-series A.
CATEGORY CRITERIA The next category conforms to the following criteria JUDGES WILL REVIEW ENTRIES BASED ON • The entry’s business proposition / service • What is the market need being met and the defensibility of this market • What IP is owned by the entry • How any funding to date has been used and how this has benefited the company • The entry’s company structure • The entry’s growth plans • Quantitative and qualitative data supporting the entry (e.g. stats and third- party endorsements) • Can this entry credibly make any claims pertaining to sustainability or environmental positivity
NFT OF THE YEAR This celebrates sports NFTs, created either by a single entity or a partnership between two or more brands / individuals.
CATEGORY CRITERIA JUDGES WILL REVIEW ENTRIES BASED ON • What is the market for this entry • To what degree was the entry unique, innovative, disruptive and ground-breaking within the market • Can this entry credibly make any claims pertaining to sustainability or environmental positivity
NEED HELP? TALK TO THE TEAMS IN… LONDON, UK or NEW YORK, ATLANTA or PHOENIX, USA or ENTER NOW #OnlyfortheInnovative
