In the quiet town of Harrisburg, South Dakota, a unique pilot study is shining a light on how GPS technology could change football. High school football players from Harrisburg High have been equipped with GPS trackers to monitor their performance. This initiative aims to enhance safety in the sport. This study is part of the larger Smart Team Project, funded by an artificial turf company, FieldTurf. It's a key project for understanding how field surfaces can impact young athletes’ performance and injury risks.
Thirty-five players are wearing GPS-tracked vests, measuring how far and fast they run during practice and games. This real-time data helps coaches manage player workloads, thus reducing training strain. It ensures athletes are prepared for game-day intensity. “Exposing players to sprint-like activities early in the week is crucial to prevent sudden spikes during games that can lead to injuries,” noted Dr. Thayne Munce, leading the study. Dr. Munce and his team highlight a critical insight: the importance of balancing exposure and rest to maintain athlete safety and readiness.
But what's truly innovative is the introduction of instrumented insoles. These smart insoles gather detailed data every time a player's foot hits the ground. They measure acceleration, field condition, and force during contact. This innovation offers insights into how field surfaces might impact players’ performances. The data highlights subtle movement patterns, enabling coaches to tailor training for optimal safety and performance on varying field types.
Dr. Munce and his pioneering team are aware of the study's modest scale this year. Yet, they envision a broader impact. By expanding this study, they aim to pinpoint factors that elevate injury risks. Is it imbalances in strength, poor field conditions, or the total workload players endure? Each factor is vital in nurturing a safer football environment, echoing a growing need for data-driven approaches in sports safety.
The promise of GPS technology in sports doesn’t rest. Football isn't the first to employ it, but its usage at the high school level is groundbreaking. Despite the study's infancy, it lays a foundation for dramatically transforming safety standards nationwide. From high schools to higher levels, football programs could soon adopt such innovations, ensuring the essence of the game—passion and challenge—thrives with enhanced safety measures.
References:
1. Wearable tech study could help make football safer
2. Internet of Things: who are the leaders in wearable impact sensors for the sports industry?
