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Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(01): 49-53
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1385866
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Accuracy of GPS Devices for Measuring High-intensity Running in Field-based Team Sports

E. Rampinini
1   S. S. MAPEI srl, Human Performance Laboratory, Olgiate Olona, Italy
,
G. Alberti
2   Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
,
M. Fiorenza
3   Faculty of Exercise Sciences, Department of Sport, Università degli Studi di Milano, Nutrition and Health Sciences, Milan, Italy
,
M. Riggio
4   S. S. MAPEI srl, Human Performance Laboratory, Castellanza, Italy
,
R. Sassi
5   Training Check Juventus, Juventus Football Club, Turin, Italy
,
T. O. Borges
6   School of Leisure, Sport & Tourism, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
,
A. J. Coutts
7   School of Leisure, Sport & Tourism, University of Technology, Sydney, Lindfield, Australia
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 27 May 2014

Publication Date:
25 September 2014 (online)

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Abstract

We compared the accuracy of 2 GPS systems with different sampling rates for the determination of distances covered at high-speed and metabolic power derived from a combination of running speed and acceleration. 8 participants performed 56 bouts of shuttle intermittent running wearing 2 portable GPS devices (SPI-Pro, GPS-5 Hz and MinimaxX, GPS-10 Hz). The GPS systems were compared with a radar system as a criterion measure. The variables investigated were: total distance (TD), high-speed distance (HSR>4.17 m·s−1), very high-speed distance (VHSR>5.56 m·s−1), mean power (Pmean), high metabolic power (HMP>20 W·kg−1) and very high metabolic power (VHMP>25 W·kg−1). GPS-5 Hz had low error for TD (2.8%) and Pmean (4.5%), while the errors for the other variables ranged from moderate to high (7.5–23.2%). GPS-10 Hz demonstrated a low error for TD (1.9%), HSR (4.7%), Pmean (2.4%) and HMP (4.5%), whereas the errors for VHSR (10.5%) and VHMP (6.2%) were moderate. In general, GPS accuracy increased with a higher sampling rate, but decreased with increasing speed of movement. Both systems could be used for calculating TD and Pmean, but they cannot be used interchangeably. Only GPS-10 Hz demonstrated a sufficient level of accuracy for quantifying distance covered at higher speeds or time spent at very high power.

Key words

soccer - team sport - metabolic power - acceleration - training load monitoring
 

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