First it Was Players, Now its Footballs

13 Jan 2015

Footballs being used in Australian football may soon be tracked with GPS, adding to the amount of technology now being utilized in sports around the world.

GPS tracking being used in sports is not new; the players of various sports, including football, rugby, basketball, and soccer, have been used all over the world. However, using them in the actual balls is something else entirely different.

A company in Australia is looking to utilize GPS trackers in footballs in early 2015. The company wants to use the GPS tracking devices in both the Australian Football League (AFL) and at the National Rugby League (NRL).

The tracking devices they are proposing to use in Australia will be about the size of a dime, and will be battery operated. These tracking devices will use GPS technology, which allows the team coaches to monitor the ball’s speed and how long each player has hold of the ball.

The goal is to use the data to help work on better analytics and make proper strategy decisions during the games. They also want more detailed information regarding analytics of their training and live games. In addition, spectators of the sports will also be able to see the same information from the ball’s GPS tracking devices.

Catapult is being chosen as the manufacturer for devices for the NRL and AFL because they already make GPS devices that are worn by players. This includes players in the AFL wearing tracking devices on their person during games, which can monitor each player’s activity and see what their strengths and weaknesses are.

While the AFL has been using trackers for a while for their players, the ball tracking is new to them. This will be the first time the NRL has used such technology.

The National Football League (NFL) in the United States also began using GPS trackers for their players at approximately half of the stadiums in the country. Australia wants to follow this trend, but take it one step further by tracking the balls in the games as well.

While the NFL mostly uses the technology to avoid injury and see the cause of injuries during practice and games, they also use the data to improve the games based on each player’s individual performance.

In Australia, they hope to do the same, but with the footballs themselves. This will give them information they have never had before, with detailed information about the balls. They can see the actual speed of the ball, instead of just guessing what it is. And fans get the benefit of seeing what players have the ball and for how long.

Will this type of GPS tracking make it to the United States in the National Football League, or possibly high school and college football?


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