SPORT • 2020
A TECHNICAL EDGE Words by Mandy Anderson DIRECTOR OF SPORT
Over the last three years in the Rangi sport programme we have seen the introduction of two key technologies designed to enable us to better support our student athletes – the use of GPS units and wellness monitoring. GPS-based technologies are increasingly used throughout many sports to support performance monitoring. GPS units are small
devices about the size of a box of matches which contain a global positioning system (GPS) that updates five times per second, monitoring all necessary movements. The unit is fitted inside the back of a vest worn by the athlete. The device tracks a wearer’s distance covered, speed, number of high intensity sprint efforts (among other
data) and then gives an intensity rating out of 100, which reflects how hard the athlete has worked during a game or session. Monitoring the workload and intensity of our athletes using GPS units has been extremely useful on both an individual and team level:
Individually Access to data provided by the GPS units has enabled us to further support and care for students, ensuring athletes are not being overloaded and equally important, are working at an appropriate intensity.
Teams Monitoring athletes within teams has helped to minimise rates of injuries due to fatigue and burnout, which has helped to boost enjoyment and performance. Thanks to the GPS data which we collect, player loading can be discussed and managed by Team Management to help our athletes make it through a season injury free. Utilising this technology can be particularly helpful during tournament situations. At last year’s Federation Cup, for example, the kilometres covered and the minutes played for 1st XI hockey players was recorded. Where an athlete showed comparatively high levels of kilometres or minutes, a conversation followed between the player and management team to ensure that player welfare was at forefront of mind during the week.
The Komodo platform allows us to track trends and helps identify when students are at a greater risk of injury or illness due to overloading.
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