Global positioning systems (GPS) have become the norm, not only for elite sporting clubs around the world, but also for semi-professional clubs, colleges and high schools. This is because Athlete GPS systems provide value in helping maximize athlete availability, stamina and performance. Coaches wishing to gain insights into an athlete’s efficiency can use their movements to provide valuable insights. GPS systems use satellites to track the movement of players as they wear a GPS device, most commonly located in a vest and situated between the shoulder blades. GPS systems provide the user with volume metrics such as total distance; and intensity metrics such as meters per minute, both of which are often available in real time via a laptop, tablet or watch. The quantity of data from GPS devices has also increased dramatically over the last 5-10 years with sampling rates increasing from 1Hz to 15Hz meaning that computing power to deal with the quantity of data has also had to improve.

Coaches are now increasingly using athlete GPS systems to reduce the risk of athlete injury. With improvements to the amount of information provided by athlete GPS systems coaches can benchmark movement parameters and set limits of player fatigue depending on distance covered. GPS monitoring also provides a competitive advantage to a team’s players because of the level of granular feedback available. These systems can further add structure to training sessions, aligning ball skills and tactics with past team plays and successful scoring strategies.

Objective performance feedback impacts a player’s understanding of their own game and how they can improve their in-game performance. With coaches using statistical evidence of each player’s strengths and weaknesses, teams can build player profiles and benchmarks. This can improve in-season training, with athletes getting quantifiable feedback on their performance instantly. It can also inform drills and plays from past seasons to analyse which aspects of a players game need to be addressed.

Athlete GPS has become such a big part of the role of a sports scientist, strength and conditioning coach and medical practitioners. But how are these practitioners integrating this technology in their day to day practice? Below are some case studies and articles which delve deeper in this topic:

1. Sports biomechanics: GPS vs. Inertial Sensors. Why GPS may be miscalculating your athlete’s mechanical load. Part 1, Part 2
2. How to Integrate New Performance Monitoring Solutions. A case study with Andrew Gray of the Cronulla Sharks
3. The Best Wearable Technology for Athletes

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