Various embodiments are directed to techniques for reducing electric power employed by devices of a game play monitoring system that collects data during game play in a sport. An apparatus may include an interaction detection component to monitor an interaction sensor of a playing piece to detect an interaction with a body, generate playing piece data recording an aspect of the interaction and determine whether the interaction maintains the playing piece within a close proximity to the body; and a communications component to use electric power from a power source to wirelessly transmit the playing piece data to a player device carried by the body via shorter range wireless communications or to an access point device via longer range wireless communications based on the determination, the shorter range wireless communications to consume electric power of the power source at a lesser rate. Other embodiments are described and claimed.