Which statement best describes the role of GPS data in monitoring training load and performance in team sports?

• A. Heart rate data is the primary metric measured by GPS.
• B. GPS tracks distance, speed, accelerations; helps quantify workload, calibrate training and monitor fatigue.
• C. GPS measures hydration status.
• D. GPS only tracks location.

Answer: (B)

GPS data in team sports provides an objective measure of external training load by tracking movement such as distance covered, speed, and accelerations. This allows you to quantify how much work a player does in a session, translate that into workload, and adjust training to match the demands of competition. By examining how volume and intensity change over time, you can monitor fatigue and readiness and tailor recovery or progression accordingly. GPS works alongside internal measures like heart rate but focuses on movement demands rather than physiological response, and it doesn’t measure hydration. It also does more than simply locate players; it provides concrete metrics of workload that inform training decisions and fatigue monitoring.