Validity and reliability of GPS for measuring distance travelled in field-based team sports

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of movement intensity and path linearity on global positioning system (GPS) distance validity and reliability. One participant wore eight 1-Hz GPS receivers while walking, jogging, running, and sprinting over linear and non-linear 200-m courses. Five trials were performed at each intensity of movement on each 200-m course. One receiver was excluded from analysis due to errors during data collection. The results from seven GPS receivers showed the mean (± s) and percent bias of the GPS distance values on the 200-m linear course were 205.8 ± 2.4 m (2.8%), 201.8 ± 2.8 m (0.8%), 203.1 ± 2.2 m (1.5%), and 205.2 ± 4 m (2.5%) for the walk, jog, run, and sprint trial respectively. Walk and sprint distances were significantly different from jogging and running distances (P < 0.05). The GPS distance values on the 200-m non-linear course were 198.9 ± 3.5 m (-0.5%), 188.3 ± 2 m (-5.8%), 184.6 ± 2.9 m (-7.7%), and 180.4 ± 5.7 m (-9.8%) for the walk, jog, run, and sprint trial respectively; these were significantly lower than those for the corresponding values on the linear course (P < 0.05). Differences between all non-linear movement intensities were significant (P < 0.05). The overall coefficient of variation within and between receivers was 2.6% and 2.8% respectively. Path linearity and movement intensity appear to affect GPS distance accuracy via inherent positioning errors, update rate, and conditions of use; reliability decreases with movement intensity.

Match Analysis of U9 and U10 English Premier League Academy Soccer Players Using a Global Positioning System

“…This is an 2 interesting finding as high intensity running distance has been reported to distinguish the 3 standard of senior soccer players (25). This may be because the players from the current 4 study spent a lower proportion of match time in high intensity running compared to the senior 5 professional soccer players (4) possibly due to a difference in the area per player (27) 6 between the current and previous (4) studies or because the anaerobic energy supplying 7 pathways will not be fully developed in boys of this age (13,16,22). 8 9 In summary, the total distance covered during a match was approximately 4000 m for the U9 10 and U10 elite soccer players and only 600-700 m were covered by high intensity running 11 which was achieved during 5-6% of match playing time.…”

Unpacking the Black Box: Applications and Considerations for Using GPS Devices in Sport

“…12,14,15 While these studies provided a thorough assessment of velocity, acceleration, and deceleration compared with high-sampling criterion measures, the limitations were that they did not assess using sport-specific movements involving changes in direction. Other studies have employed sport-specific movement circuits, 8,11,[16][17][18][19] however most of these studies are limited in the criterion measures used to evaluate velocity (eg, timing gates, 20,21 ) and synchronization protocols are not well documented.…”

Confiabilidade das medidas de demanda física, fisiológica e tática em pequenos jogos com superioridade e igualdade numérica no futebol

“…For the distance traveled between 14.4 and 21.5 km/h, higher %SEM values were found (30.0 to 42.0%), but also close to those found by Ade et al 4 (40-60%) in a similar speed range (14.5-19.8 km/h). In fact, studies have shown a decrease in reliability for higher speeds in SSG using 1Hz, 5Hz, and 10Hz GPS 7,8,19 . This may be related to the low sampling frequency of GPS devices, which limits the capture of short movements at high speeds 20 .…”