At Athletic Lab, we use GPS tracking as part of our player monitoring toolkit with multiple teams to assess player readiness, manage training load, and reduce injuries. [Vanessa Batchelor, MS is a coach at Athletic Lab and the Director of Sports Science for NC Courage Academy] Global Positioning System (GPS) Performance Tracking Technology As a seemingly convenient and modern piece of technology, global positioning systems (GPS) derived from the early 1940s invention of the atomic clock. Thus, through multiple-satellite communication with the GPS device, displacement over a given time can calculate the velocity of the movement performed. The increased interest in human locomotive studies of steady-state movement over the years has led to the application of GPS to field sports, beginning as recently as 2006 (Aughey, 2011). This evolution of technology has created an objective source of readily available information to the sports team and coaching staff represented by various metrics appropriate to measuring the physical requirements of sport. With hundreds of GPS trackers on the market today, most will be able to provide similar key metrics, such as: total distance, meters per minute, max speed, number of sprints, number of accelerations and decelerations, high speed running, and high metabolic load and distance. These metrics combined are able to tell the story of the athlete's work patterns and intensities during training, competition, and recovery. Deciphering accumulated data can result in feeling extremely overwhelmed and confused, especially if the user is unaccustomed to such sport science technology. Understanding the numerous purposes GPS technology provides can be a time-consuming experience, but the benefits ensure worthwhile rewards for all parties involved. Understanding GPS Data Relatively The GPS data collected within a sports team is interpreted with relativity in [...]