Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to establish the validity of a GPS-based tracking system (Polar Team Pro System, PTPS) for estimating sprint performance and to evaluate additional diagnostic indices derived from the temporal course of the movement velocity. Thirty-four male soccer players (20 ± 4 years) performed a 20 m sprint test measured by timing gates (TG), and while wearing the PTPS. To evaluate the relevance of additional velocity-based parameters to discriminate between faster and slower athletes, the median-split method was applied to the 20-m times. Practical relevance was estimated using standardized mean differences (d) between the subgroups. Differences between the criterion reference (TG) and PTPS for the 10 and 20 m splits did not vary from zero (dt10: -0.01 ± 0.07 s, P = 0.7, d < -0.1; dt20: -0.01 ± 0.08 s, P = 0.4, d < -0.2). Although subgroups revealed large differences in their sprint times (d = -2.5), the average accelerations between 5 and 20 km/h as well as 20 and 25 km/h showed merely small effects (d < 0.5). Consequently, analyses of velocity curves derived from PTPS may help to clarify the occurrence of performance in outdoor sports. Thus, training consequences can be drawn which contribute to the differentiation and individualization of sprint training.
Highlights
As in most team sports, soccer is about scoring and preventing goals, whereas straight sprinting with and without the ball was found to occur in approximately every second goal situation in the first German national league [1]
Low (r = 0.57, confidence intervals (CI): 0.40–0.86, P < 0.001) to moderate (r = 0.74, CI: 0.57–0.91, P < 0.001) relationships were found between the results of timing gates (TG) (t10 and t20) and times estimated by PTPS, respectively
The results of this study indicate that velocity curves derived from a GPS-based tracking system are a valid and useful database to analyze sprint performance
Summary
As in most team sports, soccer is about scoring and preventing goals, whereas straight sprinting with and without the ball was found to occur in approximately every second goal situation in the first German national league [1]. Since all players on the pitch are involved in these situations, sprinting is of outstanding importance and a crucial element of the requirement profile. This estimation was shared by many authors [2,3,4,5], the cumulative sprint distance is below 5% relative to the total distance covered during a match. Investigations in the English Premiere League across seven seasons from 2006/07 to 2012/13 showed a massive increase in the distance covered in the high-intensity (24–36%) and sprinting (36–63%) zone in all playing positions the total distance only changed marginally [2, 3].
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