Unlocking Performance: How GPS Reports Guide Training & Tactics

By Vlade Bendic

In modern football, GPS match reports provide invaluable insight into player workload, movement patterns, and tactical efficiency. These reports allow coaching staff to break down individual performances, assess positional demands, and refine training and match-day strategies based on real data rather than assumptions.

Each position on the pitch requires different levels of physical output, intensity, and sprint activity, and GPS data allows these differences to be analysed objectively. For example, centre-backs typically cover large distances but engage in fewer sprints, as their role is focused on maintaining defensive structure rather than making frequent explosive runs. The data from a recent match supports this, Alexandru Albu (CB) covered 8,698m, but only 182m was at high-speed running (HSR), and just 31m was sprinting. These numbers confirm his role as a steady, positionally disciplined defender rather than one who is frequently chasing the ball or making aggressive forward runs.

By contrast, fullbacks show significantly higher sprint and HSR numbers, reflecting their dual role in both defence and attack. Saleh Al-Nashmi (FB) recorded 9,632m total distance, but more notably, 475m of HSR and 143m of sprinting. This data points to his involvement in overlapping runs, quick recovery sprints, and transitions between defensive and attacking phases. Without GPS reports, these interpretations would rely on subjective analysis, whereas the numbers provide clear, measurable evidence of workload and role-specific demands.

Midfielders, particularly box-to-box players, tend to have the highest overall work rate. Ahmed Al-Anzy (CM) covered 10,960m, more than any other player, along with 591m of HSR. This data supports the interpretation that he is heavily involved in transitions, covering ground between defensive and attacking phases. The high HSR value suggests he is not just jogging between zones but actively engaging in high-intensity movement, making him a key player in linking different areas of the pitch.

Forwards and wingers, meanwhile, often record the highest sprinting figures, as their roles involve quick bursts of speed for counter-attacks, breaking defensive lines, and pressing off the ball. Salem Al-Saleem (Winger) led the team in sprinting distance with 201m, a number that reinforces his role as an attacking threat, frequently making explosive runs into dangerous areas. Similarly, Fabinho (Striker) recorded 192m of sprinting, aligning with the expectation that a forward needs to make dynamic movements behind the defensive line.

Substitutes are another crucial aspect of performance analysis, and GPS data helps quantify their impact. Abdelwahab Jaafar, who played just 35 minutes, covered 3,613m, including 203m in HSR and 174m in sprinting. Despite limited time on the pitch, his numbers indicate a highly explosive impact, likely as an attacking player brought on to inject pace and energy into the game. Without GPS data, it might be assumed that substitutes are simply fresher players, but the sprint metrics reveal whether they are truly maximising their time on the pitch.

Ultimately, the ability to interpret data comes from identifying patterns and trends within these reports. Rather than relying on perception, coaches can objectively assess how different players and positions contribute physically to the team’s tactical approach. Whether it’s adjusting training loads, refining pressing strategies, or managing substitutions more effectively, GPS match reports provide a critical foundation for data-driven decision-making in football.