Your Data, Their Game: How Athletes Can Stay Safe with Smart Sports Tech
By Judy Selby | Founder, KNKRSM – How Champions Conquer Their Digital Edge

Wearables and connected devices have become standard in sports. From GPS trackers to heart-rate monitors, athletes use technology to optimize performance and recovery. These tools provide super valuable insights, but they also collect an enormous amount of personal data. If that data falls into the wrong hands, the risks are serious.

Why It Matters

Performance data is more than just numbers. It's sensitive information about your body, your routines, and your health. When shared without limits, it can be misused in ways that affect your privacy, your contracts, and even your safety.

Real-World Risks

• Biometric Exposure: Heart rate, sleep patterns, and recovery scores could be accessed by outsiders, revealing too much about your readiness or injury status.

• Location Tracking: GPS-enabled wearables can expose your training routes, travel schedules, or even your home address.

• Ownership Questions: Data collected by team-issued devices may not belong to you. It might be stored, sold, or analyzed in ways you never approved.

• Hacking Threats: Any connected device can be hacked, giving bad actors access to personal or performance details.

Best Practices for Safer Use

1. Understand the Terms: Before using a wearable, check who owns the data and how it can be shared.

2. Control Sharing Settings: Turn off automatic sharing with apps or social platforms.

3. Limit GPS Use: Disable real-time location sharing unless it is absolutely necessary.

4. Use Secure Accounts: Protect logins with strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

5. Separate Personal and Team Devices: If possible, use your own device for personal training so you control your data.

The Bottom Line

Smart sports tech can help you train smarter, but it should not come at the cost of your privacy. Treat your performance data the same way you treat your playbook or your contract. It belongs to you, and you should have the final say in how it is used. Staying informed and making small adjustments to your settings can keep your edge on the field without giving away your secrets off of it.

If you’re an NFL player, coach, agent, or team executive, let’s talk. [email protected]
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