Gareth Southgate and his England squad are using ‘smart rings’ during the Euro 2024 tournament. These rings, called Oura rings, track various health metrics like heart rate variability, blood oxygen rate, and body temperature. The data collected helps monitor the players’ health, recovery, and sleep quality. The rings provide daily scores related to activity, readiness, and sleep quality, which can be accessed through a smartphone app.
The England team is currently staying at the luxurious Spa & Golf Resort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain for their training camp. The staff is utilizing the Oura rings to monitor the players’ rest and recovery between games. One of the key features of the ring is its ability to track sleep duration and different sleep stages like light, deep, and REM sleep. This information will be valuable in managing the players’ training load throughout the tournament.
The Oura ring is meant to be worn 24/7 to ensure consistent and reliable data collection. However, it is unclear whether the players will be allowed to wear the rings during games. Wearable technology has become increasingly popular in football, with players using devices like fitness trackers to monitor their performance, recovery, and sleep. Professional footballers like Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo have endorsed such devices for their health benefits.
The investment in the Oura rings, priced at £299 ($379) each, shows the Football Association’s commitment to utilizing technology for player well-being and performance. These small gains in monitoring health and recovery could potentially make a significant difference in the team’s success during the tournament. The use of wearable technology reflects the growing trend in football towards data-driven insights and performance optimization.
As the England squad continues to compete in Euro 2024, the data collected from the Oura rings will play a crucial role in managing player fitness and ensuring optimal performance on the field. The integration of technology in sports has become a standard practice, providing teams with valuable insights into player health and well-being. With the Oura rings, Gareth Southgate and his players are embracing innovation to enhance their chances of success in the tournament.