Tech & Gadgets

How GPS Technology Can Be Used In Team Sports

By Abdul Aziz Mondal

May 18, 2023

GPS Technology Can Be Used in Team Sports

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GPS technology is widely used in many modern software solutions and has become a well-known standard for different types of mobile apps. Applications with location-based functionality, such as maps, food delivery, hotel booking solutions, etc. help to facilitate and streamline a lot of tasks for users

But in this article, we’d like to consider the use of GPS capacities in one particular segment. We are going to talk about the role and benefits of location tracking in team sports. In general, it is quite inspiring to observe how quickly the global sports tech market is growing. According to a recently conducted study, in 2022, the sports tech market volume was $12.25 billion. And with a CAGR of almost 20% which is projected for the period of time from 2023 to 2029, by 2029 it will reach $47.25 billion.

GPS In Sports

The GPS technology in sport has the same principle of work and functions as in other spheres. It makes it possible to track the real-time location of an object or person in a fully remote format and to do it, the technology uses data gathered by a network of satellites.

In general, GPS tracking is used in the sports industry, including team games, for gathering the most accurate real-time data that help to evaluate athletes’ performance. This data can provide coaches and players with valuable insights that can be utilized for further game strategy planning as well as for increasing the efficiency of training sessions.

What data can be gathered thanks to GPS tracking?

  • Running distance
  • Speed of running (including average and maximum speed)
  • Heart rate
  • Positioning on the field at different time periods
  • Deceleration/acceleration time
  • Periods of low- and high-intensity play
  • Player’s load

Very often GPS trackers developed for team sports are enriched with sensors of different types that allow users to collect more precise and diversified data. For example, such trackers may have an in-built accelerometer, magnetometer, or gyro.

Typical Features Of A GPS-Powered App For Team Sports

Let’s have a look at the most popular and highly-demanded functionality that is created for the apps which are intended for being used in team sports.

Access To Real-Time Performance Data

In order to make training sessions more result-oriented, coaches need to have a good understanding of how players are performing. And real-time data gathered by GPS devices and accumulated by a connected app can provide them with this possibility.

Data History And Analytics

But it is crucial not only to have access to accurate data but also to be able to interpret it in the right way. That’s why a lot of sports apps for coaches have features that are able to analyze and visualize accumulated data. Thanks to this functionality, coaches can save a lot of time that can be typically required for deep consideration of all data. Moreover, the risk of human error is excluded.

Game Strategy Planning

One of the reasons for the popularity of GPS in the segment of field games is the fact that this technology can be used for determining the correct position and movement of each player. As coaches can track the positions of all players, they can fully analyze the chosen strategy and then introduce changes to it with a view to achieving better results.

Player’s Statistics And Rating

In team sports, coaches have to work not only with their teams as a whole but also with each player individually to understand their performance and condition. Accurate data from GPS trackers can be very useful in this case.

GPS Tracking In Football

Football is a typical team game which means that we can take it as an example for having a look at how GPS technology can be applied for addressing the needs of coaches and players. GPS tracking with further data visualization and reports can replace time-consuming video analysis that is already considered to be less efficient than GPS-powered apps.

The received results can be used by coaches not only for analyzing the general game strategy but also for elaborating the right positioning for all players given their physical condition and skills. Moreover, for coaches, it is important to understand the right recovery time for each player which is also possible to do with reliable GPS data.

Does GPS Have A Future In Team Sports?

Though at the moment, it will be false to say that the majority of teams already use such solutions, many sports organizations and clubs have already tested them. And GPS itself definitely has chances for a bright future within this industry. This technology has already proven its efficacy in this sphere and we can expect to observe the expansion of its use cases in the future.

Nevertheless, for being widely adopted, these solutions need to be modernized. For example, it is required to find the possibility to make devices more compact, extend their battery life, and seamlessly integrate GPS-powered software products with other apps for the sports industry.

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Abdul Aziz Mondal

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

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