How to Use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Data to Monitor Training Load in the “Real World” of Elite Soccer

Abstract

[EN] Modern physical training in elite sport is characterized by the systematic and continuous assessment of data on competitive and training performances (Clemente et al., 2019a). In team sports, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology is probably the most used monitoring tool to record workloads during training and competitions (Akenhead and Nassis, 2016). In soccer, the training load (TL) has previously been defined as the input variable that is manipulated to elicit the desired training response (Impellizzeri et al., 2019) and it can be differentiated into external and internal loads (Jaspers et al., 2017). While external TL refers to the overall activities of a player, internal TL encompasses the psycho-physiological stress imposed on the player’s body (Jaspers et al., 2017). Both internal and external TLs represent the cumulative exposure of each player to training and competitions (Jaspers et al., 2018). TL can be assessed by means of internal and external measures (Impellizzeri et al., 2019). For internal measures, heart rate or rating of perceived exertion have traditionally been applied (Owen et al., 2015). For external measures, GPS data have proven to be a valid and reliable means (Nikolaidis et al., 2018). GPS measures time motion parameters represented by the distance covered and the number of efforts at different running velocities (e.g., up to 25.2 km/h), as well as bouts of acceleration and deceleration throughout an activity (e.g., up to 3 m/s² or −3 m/s², respectively) at different intensities (Akenhead and Nassis, 2016) over a few meters which are too short to reach high speed running (Varley et al., 2017).