Can we use GPS for assessing sprinting performance in rugby sevens? A concurrent validity and between-device...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• Accurate measurement of maximal sprinting speed (MSS) and acceleration (Amax) is crucial for elite athlete performance monitoring.
• Rugby sevens demands high levels of explosive power and speed, necessitating reliable performance metrics.
• Existing GPS technology requires validation for specific sports contexts like elite rugby sevens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To collect data on MSS and Amax in elite rugby sevens players using GPS devices.
• To evaluate the concurrent validity of a 16 Hz GPS device against a radar gun.
• To assess the between-device reliability of GPS measurements for MSS and Amax.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen elite rugby sevens players performed maximal sprinting tests.
• Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing GPS data with a Stalker ATS II radar device.
• Between-device reliability was tested using six V2 GPS units on a sled during 40m sprints.

Main Results:

• GPS units demonstrated high reliability for MSS assessment.
• A 0.5-second moving average smoothing improved the signal-to-noise ratio for Amax measurements.
• Mean bias for MSS was -3.0 ±1.1%, and for smoothed MSS was -1.6 ±1.0%.

Conclusions:

• The 16 Hz GPS device is a reliable tool for measuring MSS in elite rugby sevens.
• GPS provides an acceptable measure of Amax, particularly when using data smoothing.
• This technology offers sport scientists and coaches an accurate and dependable method for monitoring running performance.