Getting Published...

The day has finally come...I can now offically call myself a published writer :)

As some will know I currently intern at Sports Networker. In my free time I had written them an article, please feel free to have a look. And check out the rest of the site I cannot boast about this site enought its fantastic :)

Here is my article: http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2013/03/28/top-7-apps-for-the-ultimate-sports-fan-2/

Let me know what you think either on here or leave a comment on the site!

Thank you!

Football- Slowing coming into the digital era

Goal-line technology will finally be used selectively in Football (soccer) matches and tournaments. FIFA has launched a tender process for selecting a company to fulfill the contract for its showpiece competitions. 
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) gave the go ahead in July of the introduction of goal line technology by approving Hawk-Eye and GoalRef systems these systems were used in the 2012 Club World Cup venues in Toyota and Yokohama. FIFA said the systems were "successfully" implemented at Decembers tournament. 

Picture from The Guardian

After this success FIFA has confirmed that GLT will be used at the 2013 confederations cups and 2014 World cup in Brazil.  For England fans this has been a long time coming, especially after the controversial Frank Lampard goal in 2010 against Germany in the world cup.

FIFA said in a statement: “The aim is to use GLT in order to support the match officials and to install a system in all stadia, pending the successful installation, and pre-match referee tests. With different technologies on the market, FIFA has launched a tender today, setting out the technical requirements for the two forthcoming competitions in Brazil. The two GLT providers already licensed under FIFA’s Quality Programme for GLT, and other GLT providers currently in the licensing process (that must have passed all relevant tests as of today) are invited to submit tenders. Interested GLT companies will be invited to join an inspection visit to the Confederations Cup venues, currently scheduled for mid-March, with a final decision due to be confirmed in early April.”

 

Picture from thethao.vtc.vn

FIFA has awarded GoalControl, based in Germany a license for its goal-line technology system GoalControl-4D. GoalControl-4D uses 14 high-speed camera located around the pitch which are focused on both goals. The position of the ball is continually and automatically captured in three dimensions as soon as it approaches the goal line. the system will send a signal to the Referees watch in less than a second, one the WHOLE ball has crossed the line. GoalControl will provide GLT at the FIFA Confederations Cups and the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. FIFA has confirmed that all  systems will all feature at these cups. GLT, Hawk eye, GoalRef and GoalControl.

Most recently the English Premier League has also said that GLT will be used in next season. GLT will start as early as the Community Shield, at Wembley in August. The Football association general Secretary Alex, Horne, ahead of the International FA Board (IFAB) meeting in Edinburgh, said:

"We are in the middle of tendering at the moment with the Premier League, so its effectively 20 Premier League Clubs and Wembley Stadium. 

"We are looking at the providers that are available and are looking at a couple and will be making a decision shortly. We expect the technology to be in place for next season, for the Community Shield" 

To many football fans this is a great outcome and can only enhance the game. like technology has done for crickets' decision review system, tennis and hawk eye, even in the NFL technology has improved the game. GLT tries to eradicate human error, even if human error can cause that much beloved drama that all sport fans live for. GLT is not 100% fool-proof but will strive to make the game fairer and remove those awful decisions. 

I am all for GLT, it will create new drama and doesn't take away the love or humanity of sports. It can only improve the game and bring sport into digital era.

Finding the right person to sponsor

Hello all,

As the public demand more from everyone and everyone, we find out more about celebrities and  sports stars than our own families and friends. So it can become increasingly difficult to sponsor a 'good guy'. The one brand I think who has suffered the most by making wrong sponsorship choices has to be Nike.

Unfortunately for Nike, it has sponsored some bad guys. Although, now not sponsoring Lance Armstrong or Oscar Pistorius. Does having these 'bad guys' really damage a brand? Did Nike make a mistake sponsoring these guys? Or is Nike just really unluckily in their pick of sport stars?

I think the letter, there's no way Nike could have known any of this, unless they have mystic meg n their team too. Maybe sponsors should start doing back ground and personality checks to see what's the percentage of a possible bad mistake/action a prospective sport star could make?

As far as it hurting the brand, I think it can do quite some damage. But as Nike is a well established brand and has three bad guys within about five years, and they are still doing ok. So I think it depends on how big the brand is to how well it can absorb those losses through these bad public figures.

Mostly, all the news would be about these people and the things they have done that has made them loose the sponsorship in the first place. Rather than the band being criticized for sponsoring these people. Good for the band, bad for those athletes.

Well I hope Nike can find a good guy soon, 3 is certainly enough bad press for one brand!

Charlotte x

BT Sport a player not to be messed with

Hello,

I am sure most of you have heard about BTs new project, BT Sport. BT Sport is set to rival the biggest UK sport media giant BSKYB. This will bring a new dimension into the UK Sports media world, but a much needed and exciting one at that.

BT Sport Logo Picture: www.thedrum.com



With a new player in town not only would their be a fight for the biggest games, but hopefully more coverage for those teams that don't get enough. And what I am personally really hoping for is the smaller sports getting some more attention. So fingers crossed...

BT Sport has already unveiled some really exciting stuff, for example their purpose built offices will be built in Stratford, a stone throw away from the Olympic Park. And has surcured some big names like Jake Humphrey that will anchor the Barclays premier league. And Claire Balding will have a weekly show. Both of these names had huge success covering the the Olympics and other major sporting events. So I am pleased to them achieving a regular gig.

BT Sport will be released this summer, and the 2013/14 is shaping up pretty good with 38 live Barclays premier league matches, loads of match from Brazil, France & Italy. And exclusive Aviva premiership Rugby matches, lots of women's tennis from 21 tournaments from around the world.  This is a great start for BT Sport, I am us between now and the summer more deals will be established.

One huge break through that will really challenge, rivals BSKYB is BT Sport have just struck a deal with ESPNs UK & Ireland's TV channels. BT will continue to broadcast at least one ESPN-branded channel. BT Sport will have the rights to show live coverage of the 2013/14 FA Cup, plus Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League, UEFA Europa League, German Bundesliga. More excitingly, BT Sport will also have the rights to ESPNs America channel which will show US sports including NCAA College Basketball, NCAA College Football and NASCAR. This is great news for both BT Sport and the US Sports trying to make a bid in the UK Sport market too. 

BT Sport is already BIG news in the game and I am excited to see where else it could lead. This can only be a positive for the UK Sports market. If you want to sign up for more information to BT Sport and start to register interest to sign up to it follow this link... www.btsport.com 

I personally can't wait to sign up and watch even more incredible amount of sport. What do you think of BT Sports success? do you think it will last? Let me know! 

Charlotte Males x

First Networking event

Hello there!

Last week I went to my first ever networking event in London. The event was a meet up with the UK Sport Network, networking and a Q&A with Richard Ayers.
It was an enjoyable evening, the Q&A session was really interesting, it had a big focus on digital media and it's impact in sport. Which is quite remarkable, as brand and other industry's have flourished with using digital media. However, sport is still quite behind, not only in the UK but globally as well.

Although I enjoyed the evening afterwards, it was quite daunting at the beginning. Through my own research about how to network I know the basics, I'm not a particularly dull or boring person and I can talk for Britain. However it was nervous as you do hope these connections you make here can lead in to job prospects. 
So after getting a drink at the bar and starting my first chat to a stranger it wasn't long before the Q & A started. I must admit I didn't quite follow everything they were saying as a few parts were brand new to me. But it was very interesting. 
Luckily I did bring a friend to keep me company. This did three things....
1) I could always stand and talk to at least someone
2) if I got stuck or shy she could help (could lead to dependence of her in the conversation)
3) push me to talk to these strangers

What I did find interesting about this networking event it was quite a small gathering compared to other events I have heard of, just about 100 attendees. It was in a Sports Cafe in Piccadilly so nice and relaxed atmosphere. I found interesting that I was the only student there and the only person looking/hoping for a job through this. Which I think proved more difficult here as everyone would have long conversation about what they do and if they could become job clients etc. 
I did sometimes feel a bit out of my league and hard to start something, if at the moment all I do is 
study and have a part time job, that doesn't relate to what I want to do in the first place. 
However, I did talk to a few people and have a interesting conversations with them. One man was so lovely he even gave me some career advice! 

After I got home, I got a few new follows on twitter and some Linked In connections from people I didn't think we're that interested in me or some didn't even speak to me. So I am assuming I made some sort of good impression! I followed up people with emails and to those who said they could help me. So fingers crossed....

What I did learn from this is what to expect in future, it not about how many people you talk to or how many business cards you give out but the quailty of those conversations and you just got to jump into the deep end and do it! You may even surprise yourself! 

Looking forward to my next event
Wally Woman x

Sport Industry Networking

Hello

Well after much more research I have discovered that I was in fact correct. The UK doesn't flaunt the sporting industry quite as well as the US. But maybe that in itself has a lure to it. As you have to be in it to know it?

That brings me on to the topic of networking. I have never experienced networking it's just not something I have a eve come across really. I discovered a really good website/blog called the UK Social Media & Sports Network. It's really good and useful so please check it out. They are celebrating it's 3rd birthday (which further supports my Brits don't flint it view). However, as I shall be attending this event I need to get some tips on networking.

Through out my research networking has been valued the most important thing to do to at least gain an entrance into the sporting industry. Especially as I have seen the attendees list and wow! Some Big positions are going. Hence the need for useful tips. So if you have any please let me know... Or if anyone has written a networking for dummies book that would be great!

I also came across some useful twitter chats. Although all run by the Yanks, am sure it will prove to be useful.
Here's when they occur. I have translated the times in UK time. It does seem some late nights are ahead. But as a student I sure I will manage.

#sbchat Sunday's 2:30am. (so Monday really) has a sport biz focus
#sportjc every other Monday 1am job chat
#social4tixsales tues 1am for best practices in ticket sales
#sportsprchat tues 2am

Make sure you use the hash tag. To answer questions. You know it's a question as the person will start their tweet with Q2: etc. make sure you start your tweet with A2: and at the end use the hash tags.

I have yet to venture into one of these chats. But as soon as I do I shall let you know :)
Keep doing what your doing!

Wally Woman