The VR market size is expected to grow to $12 billion by 2024, and one of the groups that stands to benefit the most from advancements in VR technology is athletes.

There are countless benefits to VR in sports training that give players the ability to hone their skills without the risks and dangers of real-life competition. But as with most changes, it does have its drawbacks. Here is a closer look at the pros and cons of VR for sports training.

Pros of VR in Sports Training

Trainers and athletes everywhere use VR to create realistic practice environments in any location. Football, basketball, and baseball VR training are becoming commonplace because of the technology's obvious benefits.

Take it Anywhere

One of the main benefits of VR in sports training is portability. Any gym or empty room can suddenly transform into a state-of-the-art practice space with VR. NASCAR drivers can practice maneuvers without needing a racetrack, and American football players can see formations without needing full pads and a practice field. Extreme sports, like boardercross or mountain climbing, can find new audiences who lack frequent accessibility to a course.

Protect Your Body

VR also allows users to interact with lifelike scenes and potential hazards without threatening their bodies. Simply put, VR enables realistic practice without the risk.

Especially for contact sports like rugby or basketball, VR can allow positive sports psychology and a quicker recovery when athletes are injured. Instead of feeling sidelined, athletes can still rehearse plays and mentally prepare for the next competition. When combined with weight training or yoga, VR in sports training allows athletes to maintain a competitive edge while rehabilitating from an injury.

Ultra-Realistic Skills Practice

Advances in VR continue to boggle the mind and create an ultra-realistic setting for athletes to practice. This hyper-realism enhances an athlete’s ability to train in ways that wouldn't be possible in real life.

For example, baseball VR training allows batters to see hundreds of pitches in an hour–without needing a pitching machine or wearing out the arm of a human pitcher. The realistic setting also makes the scenario more natural than a batting cage or even a practice diamond. Users can simulate other factors that more closely resemble real gameplay, offering the benefits of a computer program with the look and feel of a real game.

Collect Key Data

VR in sports training also allows coaches to collect essential metrics to improve a player's performance in real life. Trainers can collect critical data on a player's timing, responses, body movements, eye movements, and decision-making that would be impossible to track without a computerized environment.

For instance, baseball VR training allows users to visualize the strike zone and see where they were late or early on a pitch. This data can be essential for determining where a player excels and where they need to improve. The technology can also be used in conjunction with other apps and programs to make intelligent decisions about an athlete's performance.

Plus, by using VR in sports training, coaches and managers can track primary user data, such as who is completing drills and how frequently. This can inform everything from starting lineups to adjusting workouts to avoid overtraining a muscle group.

Cons of VR in Sports Training

While there are countless benefits of VR, it's still a fairly new technology. Naturally, virtual reality will not solve every problem in sports. Here are a few of the disadvantages of VR in sports training.

Can Get Expensive

One of the major downfalls of VR is the high costs. While you can purchase a VR headset for a few hundred dollars, purchasing a fully functional sports training program may cost much more. VR sports training programs can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000, which may be far outside the budget of most scholastic or amateur sports programs.

Plus, coaches and trainers have to factor in the costs of learning the technology, which may take away from valuable time that could otherwise go toward “tech-free” workouts. Monthly or yearly subscriptions may multiply if each team member requires a separate login.

As with any technology, however, the prices of older models will drop when newer versions are released. As more teams adopt VR in their sports training, free-market competition will likely drive down subscription and software prices. Athletic programs may have to be patient, but VR will likely become more affordable as time goes on.

Technology is Still Developing

Another thing to note is that the technology is still developing and may require regular updates and replacement of old hardware to remain effective. These constant updates can become burdensome without a full-time IT staff to manage updates.

Plus, there may be some mild side effects to using VR in sports training–such as headaches, eye problems, and nausea. Health side effects typically come from overuse, so athletes, coaches, and trainers will need to develop an appropriate balance in the training schedules.

Only a Simulation

While there are numerous benefits to VR in sports training, ultimately, VR is only a simulation. Critics will always say that VR cannot replace actual gameplay, but a healthy view of technology is to see it as a tool for improvement. As VR continues to improve, it will offer many ways for players to train and perfect their games that aren’t as feasible in real life. So, while it may not be a substitute, it can help players strengthen their physical and mental performance in meaningful ways that will translate onto the field.

Pros and Cons of VR in Sports Training