You may have noticed football players wearing bra-like vests on top of their training gear, and sometimes inside their match day jerseys.
This is not your ordinary vest. It is a technological feature that is used to track players’ physical performance.
The vest holds a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker, positioned behind the player’s neck, at shoulder level.
It also holds a heart-rate tracker, tied around the player’s chest, and positioned just above the diaphragm.
These devices capture crucial data when the player is involved in physical activities.
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Among metrics captured by the devices is the distance covered, the top speed attained, and the acceleration rate during short sprints.
The GPS tracker also collects data on what positions the player was most active in.
This can be used to generate a heat map that illustrates where the player was most and or least dangerous.
The tracker also collects data on the player’s heart rate and training load.
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According to Harambee Stars’ fitness and conditioning trainer Michael Igendia, this data is critical in optimizing players’ physical performance since their activity can be monitored over time.
The data can also be used to track the amount of load on the players, to reduce the risk of injury.
With advancements in technology, the data has been made more detailed and can be availed real-time as the match goes on, which helps coaches make crucial decisions in a game situation.
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