Give us a little jump.

-We can see instantly how -the force changes throughout that movement while they're doing it.

-Sports have always relied on -stats to measure performance.

-But now, an athlete's -training can be analyzed in unprecedented detail- -thanks to ultra-sensitive -trackers and digital data -We can actually see several -hundred different metrics.

-The performance lab at the University -of Nebraska uses over a dozen different tests -to gather data on an athlete's -movement and performance.

-So these are our GPS and -inertial measurement units.

-What they do is they measure -their movement on the court or on the field.

This is our 1080 sprint.

The athletes will perform their sprint -and it will instantaneously -measure their position -and speed throughout the -entirety of that run.

This is our motion capture system.

-With this, we can perform -any kind of analysis, sport-specific or general, to understand -how the body moves in three -dimensions through space.

-Motion capture is one of -many cutting edge technologies that have changed the way the health -and performance of athletes -is tracked.

No longer confined -to collegiate and professional -sports institutions, this tech is being used by people like Dr. Ideus who tests kids as young as eight -to track physical -development and performance.

-The value of gathering data -on young athletes is really to -try to, you know, have a -starting point for this picture -that we're gonna paint over -a long period of development.

The data collection -and use of technology wasn't -really prevalent when I was younger.

And now I think the benefit -for younger kids is being -able to use technology -cross-reference with what the -coach is trying to tell you -and have them support with -data, with backed up research -'this is why I'm, I'm coaching -you the way I'm coaching you.'

-But the proliferation of -data requires a different approach to training.

U.S. Olympic team counselor, Caroline Bracket, says all the new data available to athletes can sometimes reinforce negative thought patterns.

-When you're working with -elite athletes, individuals -who are highly driven, -sometimes they can put a lot -of pressure on themselves -regardless of the data.

And so when you add the data, -that can cause some -more anxiety and stress.

-Yeah, I think some -people it can hinder their, -or, you know, maybe a little -superstitious, you know, -if you don't have that -good of scores one day.

-But I think for me, just -being able to use it as kind of an objective baseline of, 'okay, this is where I'm at each day' -and not put too much -emotional investment in that.

-Data collected by -these tests is protected -by the Family Educational -Rights and Privacy Act and treated with the same level of privacy -as the student's grades, -no matter their age and can only be shared when authorized by the student or their parents.

Modern sports science provides information that guides physical training, -which in turn ensures -athletes are performing at the best of their abilities.

But for athletes recovering from injury, -the data is essential -in monitoring recovery -and providing information -for physical therapy plans that effectively guide the athlete to a safe return to competition.

-We try and relate to that -athlete, 'this is the process,' and that we expect some decline and some gradual change over time.

-It's not gonna dictate necessarily -your performance outcome -in competition.

But it's one -other measure that we can use -to understand how you are maybe -tolerating the training load or adapting to a certain type of training.

There's also that mental side that I think is very important and that you need to create a plan -or a program where you're -using the two interchangeably to assist the athlete in a holistic way.

An athlete is more than just their data.

-Those numbers don't dictate -if you're gonna be a great volleyball player, for example, or a great basketball player, for example.

-There's still, you know, -the skill component of it.

If it's used to inform and to enhance a person's performance.

-I think that that can be very -valuable.

When it's used in a way that it's penalizing or punitive -or to create a negative -narrative about a person, I think that can be unhealthy.

-Sport science is really -about answering questions and addressing problems.

-It doesn't necessarily -require any technology.

-It is about making sure we're -getting the right information -to answer these questions and -communicating with coaches and athletes.