Available from Adidas at adidas sport performance stores and shopadidas.com.

When it comes to improving athletic performance, the difference in outcomes that amateurs and pros experience often comes down to knowledgeable trainers and the right equipment. But that canyon-sized gap is on the verge of being spanned thanks in large part to the introduction of the miCoach SPEED_CELL by Adidas. Available as of December 1, 2011, the tiny device with the catchy modern name is an advanced accelerometer that captures 360-degree movement while measuring performance metrics as you train or play. Its onboard computer tracks your personal stats, including average speed, maximum speed, number of sprints, distance at high intensity levels, steps and stride during play. The device stores up to seven hours of on-field performance data and wirelessly transmits it to a smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac of your choice. Once the critical data is uploaded, it can be shared on Facebook or—via a series of new apps—utilized to fuel your own customized Avatar in a virtual world of non-stop like-minded competitors. Check out how your stats stack up against those of other athletes both locally and nationally. Even better: Compare your data sets against those of star athletes. Soccer and running apps are out first (December 1, 2011) with basketball, football and tennis to follow in 2012.

“Understanding individual performance data is one of the best ways to improve your game,” says Mark Verstegen, founder and president of Athletes’ Performance, the athletic performance training facility. “For the first time, amateur athletes can have access to the performance tracking and analysis technology available to professional athletes.”

American Athlete likes that miCoach SPEED_CELL users can create coaching programs using the device in combination with micoach.com that can be customized based on individual training needs. Likewise, we love that it couldn’t be easier to use. It sits inside a specially designed pouch in the outsole of Adidas specialty footwear, which currently includes select running shoes and the new adizero F50 soccer cleat ($160–$200). Basketball, football and tennis players won’t have long to wait for their own sports specific compatible footwear; they’re due out later this year and throughout 2012.

“We are entering an exciting new stage of development for miCoach technology,” says Christian DiBenedetto, senior innovation director, Adidas Innovation Team (aIT). “miCoach has cemented adidas’ position as an innovator in the use of data in sport to make athletes faster, and the introduction of miCoach SPEED_CELL further demonstrates our passion to help athlete’s continually enhance their performance.”

We agree and would love to stay and chat but we’re off and running—headed out to track our moves!

The Adidas adizero F50 soccer cleats.