Editorial: Methodological considerations in sports science, technology and engineering

The use of digital technology in sport science has been on the rise in recent years (1–4). This is due to the development of new and innovative technologies that can be used to e.g., measure and analyse athletic performance such as use of inertial wearables in a range of sports (5–9). Some of the most common technologies used in sport science include wearable devices, motion capture systems and data analytics, including use of machine learning (10). Those technologies are used for a variety of purposes in sport science, including improving athletic performance, reducing injury frequency, rehabilitating injuries and/or analysing tactical performance. However, the use of novel technology in sport science is not without its challenges. Notable challenges include the cost of those technologies and the need for specialized expertise to use these technologies effectively. Moreover, there is often a lack of research on reliability and validity of new emerging technologies whereby published research often lags technological development. Despite the challenges, use of contemporary technology in sport science is a rapidly growing field. This is due to the many benefits that these technologies can offer athletes, coaches, and sports scientists.