ABSTRACT

The development of 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, will make it common for nations, teams and individual athletes to obtain customized sporting equipment manufactured for their particular needs. Additionally, this form of technology can be used to generate replacement body parts to repair, strengthen or rebuild an athlete. Achieving these equipment and anatomical improvements will generate performance enhancement opportunities due to the availability of new designs and raw materials. Leaders in sport need to address the use of 3D printing for sport purposes and devise appropriate rules/regulations for governing its deployment. This chapter outlines how the 3D printing process works. This is followed by an overview of what has been, and what can be 3D printed, and then there is a discussion on generating and redesigning sports equipment with 3D printing. Next, scenarios are offered to establish “a way forward” in sport management as it pertains to 3D printing. Debate is encouraged on the acceptability/unacceptability of 3D printing technologies for use in sport. Those in sport management must determine if/when 3D printing is deemed to be cheating; and what the guiding principles underscoring decisions should be when managing the application of such technologies in sport.