Being such an explosive sport, American Football players are placed under extreme pressure every time they take the field.
GPS sports technologies provide a system to objectively and accurately quantify practice and game load at an individual level. Quantifying load is absolutely key to maximising athletic performance and minimising injury rates.
In the Field:
The use of GPS and accelerometer technology to track the loading of American Football players is in its infancy. Currently, 2 NFL teams and a number of university football programs have invested in GPS sports technologies. GPS sports is working with these teams to ensure an analysis model specific to American Football is implemented. Results are positive, with the system providing a great insight into positional demands, training structure, individual player loading profiles and indicators of soft tissue injury.
Key Uses of the Technology:
Accurately Quantify Training Load
Know exactly how much ‘work’ a player has done in a given session. Objectively assess loading across a range of parameters such as total distance, high speed running, accelerations, heart rate and impacts.
Use this information to quickly
- Establish the load of the session
- Identify outliers in the group
- Identify players at risk of injury based on their recent loading profile
Maximise Athletic Performance
By understanding both the metabolic and mechanical outputs you can:
- Better understand the training stimulus and structure training accordingly
- Accurately periodise cycles of training
- Better estimate recovery timeframes based on understanding the training stimulus
- Better integrate types of training – speed, conditioning, strength, power, cross training
- Accurately assess and monitor players during rehabilitation
Minimise Injuries
GPSports software algorithms automatically identify players at risk of injury based on their training history. Combine this with other information such as wellness indicators, injury history and musculoskeletal screening information to reduce, if not eliminate training induced soft tissue and overuse injuries.
Compare Players
Compare players across a range of performance measures in practice and game. Use this information to adjust training content, identify strengths and weaknesses of individual players and quantify changes under fatigue.
Informed Decision Making
Access live data streamed to your mobile device during training. This allows you to be on pitch and make informed decisions regarding:
- Accumulation of load during a session
- High risk players
- Feedback and instruction to coaches and players
- The manipulation of training to achieve desired outcomes
Understand the Demands of the Game
Collate game data to benchmark positional demands, prioritise athletic development and identify areas for improvement.
The National Football League (NFL) is the highest level of professional American Footbal in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. Its merger with the American Football League, agreed to in 1966 and completed in 1970, created the Super Bowl, the NFL’s championship game since the merger, which has become one of the most watched sporting event in the world.