Validity and reliability of GPS devices for measuring movement demands of team sports

Abstract There is limited information regarding the validity and reliability of global positioning system (GPS) devices for measuring movement during team sports. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and intra-model reliability of different GPS devices for quantifying high-intensity, intermittent exercise performance. Two moderately trained males each completed eight bouts of a standard circuit that consisted of six laps around a 128.5-m course involving intermittent exercise. Distance and speed were collected concurrently at 1-Hz using six GPS devices (2 SPI-10, 2 SPI Elite and 2 WiSPI, GPSports, Canberra, Australia). Performance measures were: (1) total distance covered for each bout and each lap; (2) high-intensity running distance (>14.4 km h−1 , HIR); very high-intensity running distance (>20 km h−1 , VHIR) during each bout. Peak speed was also measured during a 20-m sprint at the start of each lap of the circuit ( N = 192). Actual distance was measured using a measuring tape. Mean (±SD) circuit total distance was significantly different between each of the GPS devices ( P < 0.001); however, all devices were within 5 m of the actual lap distance and had a good level of reliability (coefficient of variation (CV)