You’ve seen your favourite professional athletes wearing GPS vests in training and games, but have you ever wondered why they wear them?
“Why is Mbappe wearing a sports bra during training?”
“Why are all of these football players wearing black sports bras under their jerseys?
“What is the sports bra that Ja’Marr Chase was wearing against the Patriots today?”
We see this question all the time on social media. So why do football players wear “sports bras”? Are they sports bras, or are the football players actually wearing vests?
The simple answer is: Yes, football players wear vests during training and games to track and measure their performance on the field. They are wearing a GPS vest that just happens to look like a sports bra. The vest is designed to hold a pod between the shoulder blades that contains a 10Hz GPS, an accelerometer and a magnetometer. These GPS devices are able to capture over 1250 data points per second to measure how much and how hard the players are working, and players and coaches are able to analyze data such as total distance, top speed, number of sprints, sprint distance, power, load, intensity, and more.
Those core metrics are displayed in an app for athletes, sport scientists, physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, and anyone else related to the sport to help inform if their team is training optimally for performance on game day, at potential risk of injury or returning from injury safely.
But why is it held in a vest that looks like a sports bra instead of on the wrist or the waist?
Two main reasons for this:
- The vest holds the pod in the optimal position for tracking so it can reach the GPS satellites. This makes sure the data is as accurate and reliable as possible.
- It’s proven to be the safest place to put it for physical sports such as soccer, rugby, basketball and football.
Are GPS vests helpful for football players who aren’t professional athletes but just want to take their game to the next level?
Arguably, even more so. Data is the best way to improve your game. Without access to sports scientists or the data that pro clubs have, it’s difficult to find out how you can improve. That’s why we created Catapult One. After 15 years experience of providing these performance solutions to clubs such as Chelsea, Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund, we wanted to make a version available for aspiring players and coaches to help more players improve their game with the same technology and data as the pros.
Where can I get one?
Get your own now by joining Catapult One here.
It’s never easy finding the perfect holiday gift … let’s take a future football pro who is looking to improve and take their performance to the next level. So you’ve probably started your gift search by ‘Googling’: “what gift do I give a football player?”…
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Track, Analyse, Improve
Catapult One is a sport tracking solution that measures the core metrics to make you a better player
As a seasoned expert in sports technology and performance tracking, my extensive knowledge in the field allows me to shed light on the intriguing question of why football players often appear to be wearing what looks like sports bras during training and games. This peculiar attire is, in fact, a GPS vest designed for tracking and measuring the performance of athletes on the field.
The GPS vest worn by football players resembles a sports bra but serves a crucial purpose in modern sports science. It houses a pod between the shoulder blades containing advanced technology, including a 10Hz GPS, an accelerometer, and a magnetometer. These high-tech devices work in tandem to capture an impressive 1250 data points per second, providing comprehensive insights into the players' performance metrics.
The key metrics tracked by these GPS devices include total distance covered, top speed reached, number of sprints, sprint distance, power exerted, load, intensity, and more. This wealth of data is then made accessible through a dedicated app for athletes, sport scientists, physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, and other professionals involved in the sport.
The decision to house the GPS pod in a vest that resembles a sports bra is not arbitrary. There are two primary reasons for this design choice. Firstly, the vest ensures the optimal positioning of the pod between the shoulder blades, allowing it to establish a reliable connection with GPS satellites for accurate data collection. Secondly, the placement on the upper body has been proven to be the safest for physical sports such as soccer, rugby, basketball, and football, minimizing the risk of damage or interference during intense physical activities.
The utility of GPS vests extends beyond professional athletes to enthusiasts and aspiring players who seek to elevate their game. Access to performance data is considered invaluable for improvement, and the democratization of this technology is evident in products like Catapult One. Developed after 15 years of providing performance solutions to top clubs such as Chelsea, Real Madrid, Ajax, and Borussia Dortmund, Catapult One aims to make the same technology and data available to players and coaches at all levels.
For those intrigued by the prospect of incorporating GPS tracking into their training routine, Catapult One offers an opportunity to join the ranks of athletes leveraging data to enhance their performance. This sport tracking solution provides access to core metrics, empowering players to track, analyze, and improve their game. To embark on this journey of performance enhancement, individuals can acquire their own Catapult One by joining the program.
In conclusion, the seemingly unconventional sports bra-like attire worn by football players conceals advanced GPS technology that has become integral to optimizing training and performance in the world of sports. As the demand for such innovations grows, accessible solutions like Catapult One are poised to democratize the benefits of performance tracking, enabling athletes of all levels to harness the power of data for improvement.
