NYCFC has partnered with PLAYR, the consumer product from Catapult Sports. (Courtesy of Catapult Sports)
New York City FC will supply two of its academy teams with PLAYR in a first-of-its-kind partnership for Catapult Sports’ consumer product.
NYCFC will outfit its U14 Boys and U16 Girls academy teams with PLAYR devices beginning in 2019. Catapult released PLAYR in June to serve the needs of highly engaged amateur players who want to track their performance but lack the infrastructure of a sport science staff. PLAYR supplements its data collection with an AI-powered SmartCoach that provides insights and instruction directly to the players.
“Our Academy is at the heart of our club,” said Claudio Reyna, NYCFC Sporting Director, in a statement. “We are continually dedicated to developing local youth talent and using innovation to do so. Our new partnership with PLAYR allows us to further utilize market-leading technology and sports science educational tools to inspire players and to maximize potential on and off the pitch. This is the same philosophy we use with our first team.”
Catapult will also supply PLAYR technology for NYCFC-backed development league events, youth tournaments, summer camps, and youth talent centers. PLAYR will be the official GPS tracking technology for the annual Nexen Manchester City Cup and will partner with Goals soccer centers.
“Our mission at PLAYR is to revolutionize match day preparation for every soccer player around the world,” said PLAYR CEO Benoit Simeray. “Based on over 10 years of experience in the elite market with Catapult Sports, PLAYR now gives aspiring players exclusive stats, insights and advice that have previously only been available to professional coaches in order to improve their performances on and off the pitch. By partnering with NYCFC, Goals and the Nexen Manchester City Cup, we’re excited by the opportunity to put PLAYR at the heart of the next generation of US soccer stars and give them the tools to empower their journey to the next level.”
SportTechie Takeaway
While PLAYR’s primary demographic may be individual amateurs, the academy teams of a pro club can similarly benefit. The PLAYR platform is infused with advice from elite sport scientists whose advice could surely aid developing teenage players whose teams may not have a full-time performance coach on staff.
