Validity and Reliability of an Inertial Sensor Device for Specific Running Patterns in Soccer

Abstract

Electronic performance tracking devices are largely employed in team sports to monitor performance and improve training. To date, global positioning system (GPS) based devices are those mainly used in soccer training. The aim of this study was to analyse the validity and reliability of the inertial sensor device (ISD) in monitoring distance and speed in a soccer-specific circuit and how their performance compare to a GPS system. 44 young male soccer players (age: 14.9 ± 1.1, range 9–16, years, height: 1.65 ± 0.10 m, body mass: 56.3 ± 8.9 kg) playing in a non-professional soccer team in Italy, participated in the study. We assessed the players trough a soccer running sport-specific circuit. An ISD and a GPS were used to assess distance and speed. Data was compared to a video reference system, and the difference were quantified by means of the root mean square error (RMSE). Significant differences were found for both GPS and ISD devices for distance and speed. However, lower error for distance (dRMSE 2.23 ± 1.01 m and 5.75 ± 1.50 m, respectively) and speed (sRMSE 0.588 ± 0.152 m·s–1 and 1.30 ± 0.422 m·s–1, respectively) were attained by the ISD compared to the GPS. Overall, our results revealed a statistically significant difference between systems in data monitoring for either distance and speed. However, results of this study showed that a smaller error was obtained with the ISD than the GPS device. Despite caution is warranted within the interpretation of these results, we observed a better practical applicability of the ISD due to its small size, lower cost and the possibility to use the device indoor.

Physical match demands of four LIQUI-MOLY Handball-Bundesliga teams from 2019–2022: effects of season, team, match outcome, playing position, and halftime

“…Additionally, a sensor was included in the balls to allow their tracking. The used technology has been considered as valid and reliable for movement patterns of indoor team sports including team handball ( 22 – 27 ). However, the metrics derived from a combination of LPS and IMU data (e.g., impacts and jumps) are less studied yet.…”

Methods recently used for the assessment of physical activity in children and adolescents

“…ISD has been used in elite sports to better understand the demands of movement, particularly in indoor sports where GPS devices cannot be used [31]. Although this type of device has generally been used in adults and in high-performance sports, in recent years, validation studies have been carried out on children and adolescents [32 ▪ ,33 ▪ ]. Pillitteri et al [33 ▪ ], carried out a validation study of an ISD (TalentPlayers TPDev, firmware version 1.3) with 44 children and adolescents who practiced nonprofessional soccer.…”

“…Although this type of device has generally been used in adults and in high-performance sports, in recent years, validation studies have been carried out on children and adolescents [32 ▪ ,33 ▪ ]. Pillitteri et al [33 ▪ ], carried out a validation study of an ISD (TalentPlayers TPDev, firmware version 1.3) with 44 children and adolescents who practiced nonprofessional soccer. The ISD was compared with a Qstarz BT-Q1000EX GPS System and video recording analyzed with Kinovea motion analysis software [34] to extract time data and the average speed on each section.…”

Match Load Physical Demands in U-19 Professional Soccer Players Assessed by a Wearable Inertial Sensor

“…It is worth noting that the GPS may have some signal issues due to adverse weather conditions or being used indoors compared to ISD. In fact, being that this technology is based on (inertial) movement, it allows for evaluating the EL considering the same parameters relating to distance, speed, and metabolic power with greater precision than GPS at 10 Hz [30]. Indeed, the better applicability of ISD technology is due to its small size, lower cost, and the possibility of using the device indoors, avoiding possible connection problems between GPS and satellite [30].…”