shaggy
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EVER wondered how hard a collision is between two giant props? Now you'll be able to find out after the NRL approved the use of GPS tracking devices.
The monitors, which are attached to the players' vests and sit between the shoulder blades, will measure heart rates, speeds, distances travelled and the force of impacts during matches.
"A number of clubs have been extremely interested in the benefits that GPS data can provide for several years," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said. "We're now at the point where the majority of clubs are using equipment for training purposes.
"Whilst (NRL chief executive) David Gallop and I were visiting all clubs over recent weeks, it became obvious ... they are anxious to use the equipment during competition matches.
"After consultation with club medical officers, our insurers and the players' association we've agreed to a four-week trial."
Manufacturer GP Sports System managing director Adrian Faccioni said the devices, which are used widely in the AFL, could eventually help with injury prevention in rugby league. To illustrate his point, Faccioni said premier Manly had been using the devices at training for several seasons and had the lowest rate of injury among all clubs.
"From a game perspective what this will allow them to do for the first time is to actually get a true understanding of the physical demands in a game," Faccione said. "They'll know every single second how hard a position is working, how far they run, how fast they run, what their heart rate's doing."
So far 11 NRL clubs have signed on to use the devices and Faccioni is in talks with the Nine Network about displaying the technology during games.
"We were hoping to do our first broadcast this weekend but we've had some technical glitches so we'd hope at least once in the next four weeks we'll actually do some live heart rate from some key players in Friday night games," Faccioni said.
"With time we'll add distances, we'll add speeds, we'll even be able to add impact so when two forwards smash into each other we'll be able to tell you how hard they ran into each other."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25168472-5012431,00.html
The monitors, which are attached to the players' vests and sit between the shoulder blades, will measure heart rates, speeds, distances travelled and the force of impacts during matches.
"A number of clubs have been extremely interested in the benefits that GPS data can provide for several years," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said. "We're now at the point where the majority of clubs are using equipment for training purposes.
"Whilst (NRL chief executive) David Gallop and I were visiting all clubs over recent weeks, it became obvious ... they are anxious to use the equipment during competition matches.
"After consultation with club medical officers, our insurers and the players' association we've agreed to a four-week trial."
Manufacturer GP Sports System managing director Adrian Faccioni said the devices, which are used widely in the AFL, could eventually help with injury prevention in rugby league. To illustrate his point, Faccioni said premier Manly had been using the devices at training for several seasons and had the lowest rate of injury among all clubs.
"From a game perspective what this will allow them to do for the first time is to actually get a true understanding of the physical demands in a game," Faccione said. "They'll know every single second how hard a position is working, how far they run, how fast they run, what their heart rate's doing."
So far 11 NRL clubs have signed on to use the devices and Faccioni is in talks with the Nine Network about displaying the technology during games.
"We were hoping to do our first broadcast this weekend but we've had some technical glitches so we'd hope at least once in the next four weeks we'll actually do some live heart rate from some key players in Friday night games," Faccioni said.
"With time we'll add distances, we'll add speeds, we'll even be able to add impact so when two forwards smash into each other we'll be able to tell you how hard they ran into each other."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25168472-5012431,00.html
