How Coaches Are Unlocking Football Players’ Potential with GPS Tracking Insights
Technology’s influence on football is undeniable, particularly with the expanded use of GPS tracking. It plays a major role in painting a more comprehensive picture of individual players and overall team performance, leading to improved outcomes. And now it’s easier than ever for coaches to use.
Initially perceived as a flashy addition to the sports tech arsenal, football GPS trackers have swiftly become essential for enhancing player performance and strategy. Now they’re considered an integral part of the game, transforming the way players perform on the field.
Start Tracking Live GPS Data in Three Easy Steps
GPS Tracking Wearables Are Part of the Uniform
It starts with the rise of wearable technology. It cannot be underestimated. Football players commonly adorn GPS sports vests underneath their jerseys on the pitch, representing the significant strides wearable technology continues to make in the sport.
The devices provide intricate details about a player’s movements, opening new avenues for performance analysis. It is part of the reason the International Football Association Board (IFAB) granted approval for clubs to wear GPS vests during matches in 2015.
It Goes Beyond Tracking Distance and Speed
The true impact of GPS trackers for football lies in their multifaceted capabilities. They monitor not just the external workload — like total distance covered and speed — but also tracks the internal workload of a player.
Parameters such as heart rate and VO2 max — the peak of a player’s exercise capacity — are now measurable, offering a comprehensive view of a player’s physical state.
Key Performance Metrics for Football Players include:
- Total Distance Covered: Captures the player’s total movement during training and matches, reflecting their activity level throughout the week.
- Acceleration/Deceleration Exposure: Monitors the frequency and intensity of quick starts and stops, conditioning players for the dynamic pace of football involving frequent changes in speed and direction.
- Player Load: A holistic metric that combines distance, acceleration, deceleration, and directional shifts to evaluate the cumulative physical stress experienced by a player.
By analyzing metrics sports performance coaches can assess whether a player is struggling or performing optimally during training and games.
For instance, if a player covers only 6 kilometers during a training session but needs to reach 8 or more on match day- that’s not good. GPS-based player trackers help coaches gauge the effort exerted by players.
Tailoring Training to the Individual
Armed with this wealth of data, a coaching staff can craft training sessions that cater to the unique needs of each player.
Adjustments can be made to drills to better suit the player. By adjusting the intensity or duration of exercises, or even altering the dimensions of the practice pitch, coaches can fine-tune a player’s physical exertion.
This custom-made approach to training is pivotal in decreasing injury risks and ensuring that players operate at their peak when it matters most.
The Data-Driven Strategy Aids Coaches
The strategic implications of GPS tracking stand out. Coaches can now make informed decisions based on hard data, leading to more effective game plans and player utilization. Substitutions and tactical shifts can be timed perfectly to exploit a player’s optimum performance window.
The Next Step for GPS Trackers in Football
A fully automated workflow. Coaches can stop wasting time connecting cables to a laptop and eliminate all manual work steps for read-out, upload, or download.
KINEXON PERFORM GPS provides an objective, detailed slate of performance metrics, and an exciting future for coaches because it is wireless. No manual steps needed.
If you’re interested in learning more about how GPS-based player tracking devices are helping football coaches and players perform better, contact us at any time, or you can check out our on
More stories
Optimizing Performance and Reducing Injuries in Professional Basketball
The landscape of professional basketball is evolving rapidly, with teams placing a greater emphasis on performance optimization and injury prevention. In a highly competitive environment like the EuroLeague, where the ultimate goal is to win games and championships, maintaining peak player performance while minimizing injuries is a fundamental challenge.
The Perfect Training Week: How KINEXON Sports Supports Smarter Coaching Decisions
Every coach knows the feeling – standing on the sidelines before a game, confident that the team is fully prepared. The training week went well, the players were engaged, and everything felt right. And when the final whistle confirms the win, the inevitable question arises:
What made this week so effective? How can we replicate it?
How Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Used Data to Prevent Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are a major concern in women’s basketball, with ACL injuries accounting for a significant portion of these issues. Managing player workload is key to injury prevention, but achieving the right balance between training and recovery is challenging. The Texas A&M Women’s Basketball team faced this dilemma and turned to a data-driven approach to optimize player health and performance.
KINEXON Tracking Technologies Earn Top Marks in FIFA EPTS Performance Tests
When it comes to tracking technology in sports, precision is everything. And once again, KINEXON has proven why it’s a leader in the field. Our cutting-edge KINEXON PERFORM GPS Elite, GPS Pro, and LPS tracking systems recently underwent FIFA’s 2024 Electronic Performance and Tracking System (EPTS) performance tests — and the results were nothing short of outstanding.
Transforming Sports in 2025: Insights from KINEXON Sports for Coaches, Fans, and Referees
As sports technology evolves, 2025 promises to be a landmark year with KINEXON Sports at the forefront. Renowned for its innovations in real-time tracking and analytics, KINEXON Sports is revolutionizing the way athletes, coaches, fans, and referees experience the game.
From delivering game-changing insights to enhancing fan engagement and officiating precision, here’s what to expect from KINEXON Sports in 2025.
How Jump Count Analytics Drive Arizona State Volleyball’s Training and Match Success
Adjusting practice schedules is a fine line for coaches to walk to maximize player performance. Arizona State’s Jake Garrity, the Assistant Head Coach of Sports Performance/Sports Science for women’s volleyball, focuses on live jump count performance analytics to lay the foundation for when the coaching staff adjusts practice intensity.
5 Facts That (Probably) Nobody Knew About KINEXON Sports Teams
Ten years ago, KINEXON Sports embarked on a journey to revolutionize the game. What began as a bold idea in Munich’s iconic Allianz Arena has evolved into a global success story, empowering over 500 elite sports teams worldwide.
As we reflect on this incredible decade, here are five surprising facts about KINEXON Sports that showcase how far we’ve come — and where we’re headed next.
Influence of the Menstrual Cycle in Team Sports – What Sports Need Now
Professionalization also brings with it more performance, more strain, and more pressure. For female athletes, this still means an increased risk of injury. The reason: individualized training and workload management must take the hormonal cycle into account. Studies on this are accumulating, but a challenge remains.
Inside Stony Brook Athletics: The Benefits of a Multi-Sport Data Analytics Provider
Stony Brook University, known for research excellence, has upgraded its athlete performance monitoring and player safety efforts with KINEXON technology. We spoke with George Greene (Senior Associate Athletic Director of High Performance) and his team about their work to optimize training and enhance sports performance insights.
Load Management in Basketball: When Does Player Tracking Become Financially Beneficial?
Player load tracking in basketball: How does data-based injury prevention, like reducing Jumper’s Knee, become financially beneficial for clubs?
GPS Data Boosts Player Performance, Motivation and Coaches' Confidence in SD Eibar Women's Club
To better manage player load, the SD Eibar’s women’s football team switched to a data-driven strategy powered by GPS. It’s a move that their physical trainer, Ismel Mazola says, led to more confident coaching decisions and motivated his players.
How Basketball Data Helps Guide Texas A&M Women's Team to Early Conference Wins
After the holidays, many teams struggle to get back on track. But not Texas A&M Women’s Basketball. Their Strength and Conditioning coach uses data and analytics to avoid a slump and start fast in conference play.
Study Reveals the Importance of an Injury Prevention Plan in European Handball
The competitive pressures and dense schedules in professional handball make injuries common among players. The results of a 6‑year study not only highlight the need for an injury prevention plan but also suggest ways coaches can develop one.
How German Handball's S&C Coach Used Data to Cut Knee Injuries by Almost 20%
Dr. Simon Overkamp, the head of strength and conditioning for the German Handball Federation, employs a data-driven strategy that not only keeps his players rested but also reduces knee injuries. And the Olympic Games play a crucial role in his approach.
Appalachian State’s Coaches Use GPS Football Technology to Manage Player Loads in Real-Time
Live GPS football data helps keep players fresh for game day. Just ask the Director of Performance for the Appalachian State Football team, Matt Greenhalgh. He shares what he thinks are some of the most critical load management metrics in the game.