05/05/2025
What are my thoughts on GPS for team sport? Do you have players in your team that are world beaters in GPS but don't actually have that much impact on a game? Check out the pros and cons..
Pros of Live GPS for Sports Performance 📡💪
Real-Time Insights: Immediate data for coaching adjustments.
Track Movement: Measures distance, speed, and acceleration.
Training Load: Quantifies physical effort and helps prevent overuse injury.
Objective Data: Reduces reliance on subjective reports.
Cons of Live GPS ⚠️📉
Doesn’t Measure Skill: No data on technique or decision-making.
No Movement Quality Insight: Tracks distance but not the efficiency of movement.
Data Doesn’t Always Equal Impact: Great GPS stats don’t guarantee good game performance.
Misleading at Times: High distances or speed can be irrelevant to actual performance.
Expensive: High cost for equipment and maintenance.
Is It Worth the Money? 💰
Training Load: Yes, it’s great for monitoring physical work and reducing and managing overuse injuries.
Performance Analysis: It’s limited—doesn’t assess skills, tactics, or mental factors.
Summary: GPS is valuable for tracking physical effort and maybe has a role in preventing overuse injury but doesn’t capture the full picture of a player’s performance. Combining it with other metrics is key.
If your team is thinking of utilising GPS then you should consider how much it costs could this money be utilised better else where e.g an additional S&C coach / player pathway development.
