Ulster Rugby has been partnered up with GPS Tracking Company, StatSports since 2008, and uses their system to plan and develop appropriate training regimens for their players based on a wide range of physical factors.
StatSports is currently working with a number of professional sporting teams, most notably, Ireland Rugby, the EPL’s Arsenal FC and the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. The technology consists of a small, attachable tracking device known as the Viper Pod, and a software system that has the ability to provide a comprehensive analysis on athlete movement and health.
The Viper Pod contains a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyroscope and digital compass that, combined, can calculate stats like distance run, top speed, average speed and collisions. All of this data can be integrated to predict all-round player health and fatigue for coaches to observe.
Ulster Rugby has used the technology to develop training plans that work their players at a rate that will get the most out of their players, without pushing too hard and risking injury.
The software can show coaches the health and performance of all of their players simultaneously and can have specific reports built in minutes, allowing teams to minimize injury and maximize performance.
StatSports has a terrific global reputation in a wide range of sports and is drastically expanding their market. With a partner in almost every code, their tracking technology is at the top of the market. With sporting leagues becoming more fiercely competitive, StatSports are not even close to being finished.