ABSTRACT
Dwyer, DB and Gabbett, TJ. Global positioning system data
analysis: Velocity ranges and a new definition of sprinting for
field sport athletes. J Strength Cond Res 26(3): 818–824,
2012—Global positioning system (GPS) technology has
improved the speed, accuracy, and ease of time-motion
analyses of field sport athletes. The large volume of numerical
data generated by GPS technology is usually summarized by
reporting the distance traveled and time spent in various
locomotor categories (e.g., walking, jogging, and running).
There are a variety of definitions used in the literature to
represent these categories, which makes it nearly impossible
to compare findings among studies. The purpose of this work
was to propose standard definitions (velocity ranges) that were
determined by an objective analysis of time-motion data. In
addition, we discuss the limitations of the existing definition of
a sprint and present a new definition of sprinting for field sport
athletes. Twenty-five GPS data files collected from 5 different
sports (men’s and women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s
soccer, and Australian Rules Football) were analyzed to
identify the average velocity distribution. A curve fitting process
was then used to determine the optimal placement of 4
Gaussian curves representing the typical locomotor categories.
Based on the findings of these analyses, we make
recommendations about sport-specific velocity ranges to be
used in future time-motion studies of field sport athletes. We
also suggest that a sprint be defined as any movement that
reaches or exceeds the sprint threshold velocity for at least 1
second and any movement with an acceleration that occurs
within the highest 5% of accelerations found in the
corresponding velocity range. From a practical perspective,
these analyses provide conditioning coaches with information