A comparison of a GPS device and a multi-camera video technology during official soccer matches: Agreement between systems

PLoS One. 2019 Aug 8;14(8):e0220729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220729. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the agreement of the movement demands data during a soccer match (total distance, distance per minute, average speed, maximum speed and distance covered in different speed sectors) between an optical tracking system (Mediacoach System) and a GPS device (Wimu Pro). Participants were twenty-six male professional soccer players (age: 21.65 ± 2.03 years; height: 180.00 ± 7.47 cm; weight: 73.81 ± 5.65 kg) from FC Barcelona B, of whom were recorded a total of 759 measurements during 38 official matches in the Spanish second division. The Mediacoach System and the Wimu Pro were compared using the standardized mean bias, standard error of estimate, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficient of variation (%), and the regression equation to estimate data for each variable. In terms of agreement between systems, the magnitude of the ICC was almost perfect (> 0.90-1.00) for all variables analyzed. The coefficient of the variations between devices was close to zero (< 5%) for total distance, distance per minute, average speed, maximum speed, and walking and jogging, and between 9% and 15% for running, intense running, and sprinting at low and at high intensities. It can be observed that, compared to Wimu Pro the Mediacoach System slightly overestimated all the variables analyzed except for average speed, maximum speed, and walking variables. In conclusion, both systems can be used, and the information they provide in the analyzed variables can be interchanged, with the benefits implied for practitioners and researchers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Geographic Information Systems / standards*
  • Humans
  • Jogging
  • Male
  • Movement
  • Running
  • Soccer*
  • Spain
  • Technology
  • Videotape Recording / standards*
  • Walking
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the European Social Foundation and the Government of Extremadura - “PO17012” to TGC. Author EP is employed by FC Barcelona. FC Barcelona provided support in the form of salary for author EP, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. RR, HB and RLdC are employed by LaLiga. LaLiga provided support in the form of salaries for authors RR, HB and RLdC, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.