The United Football League (UFL), an American football minor league, has launched FAST, a technology-focused innovation division.
The new Texas-based division will work with both established and emerging sports media and technology companies to test and launch innovations and services that will improve the sport.
Scott Harniman, SVP of Technology at UFL, said FAST will “create the blueprint” for newcomer companies in the highly competitive sportstech space.
He stated: “Innovation is a cornerstone of the United Football League. FAST will create a blueprint for companies with products and services designed to have a positive impact on the way professional football is played, coached, and consumed by fans.”
The new division will focus on three main areas with its partners: Mindfly, working on a player POV camera; SkillCorner, on a computer vision and contextual tracking system; and Sportable, creating a sensor-based ball tracking technology.
Mindfly’s player body camera, developed in collaboration with FAST, will provide a first-person perspective of live game action. After testing during the 2024 UFL playoffs, it will be deployed in two games each weekend throughout the 2025 season, integrating into FOX and ESPN broadcasts.
SkillCorner’s computer vision technology will analyse player movement, aiming to offer advanced tracking data such as speed, distance and separation to enhance performance insights.
Sportable’s Smart Balls, equipped with real-time sensor technology, will be used in practices and UFL Showcases to refine quarterback and position-specific evaluations. Additionally, FAST and FOX Sports will explore integrating Smart Ball data into real-time augmented graphics for broadcasts.
Though these three innovations will take priority, the league has confirmed more will be unveiled throughout the upcoming season.
Based in Arlington, Texas – home to training camps and regular-season practices – FAST will offer its technology to partners, providing access to over 600 players and staff for testing and development.
In addition to technology access, FAST will offer partners executive guidance, football-specific expertise, operational support, and opportunities for experimentation. Choctaw Stadium in Arlington will serve as the division’s primary testing venue, making use of the league’s private 5G network.
Brad Campbell, VP of Football Technology at UFL, commented: “The ultimate goal of FAST will be to shrink product development cycles and test, gate and launch innovations and services that have the ability to take the game to a new level.”
