Validity of an ultra-wideband local positioning system to assess specific movements in handball

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the concurrent validity of the Kinexon local positioning system (LPS) in comparison with the Vicon motion capture system used as the reference. Five recreationally active men performed ten repetitions of linear sprints, medio-lateral side-to-side and handball-specific movements both in the centre and on the side of an indoor field. Validity was assessed for peak speed, peak acceleration and peak deceleration using standardised biases, Pearson coefficient of correlation (r), and standardised typical error of the estimate. With the exception of peak decelerations during specific movements in the centre and peak acceleration and deceleration during linear sprints on the side of the field, the standardised typical error of the estimate (TEE) values were all small to moderate (0.06–0.48), standardised bias ranged between 0.01 and 2.85 and Pearson coefficient values were all > 0.90 for all variables in all conditions. Peak acceleration and deceleration during linear sprints on the side of the field showed the largest TEEs and the greatest differences between the two systems. The ultra-wideband based (UWB) local positioning system had acceptable validity compared with Vicon to assess players’ movements in handball with the exception of high accelerations and decelerations during linear sprints on the side of the field.

Local Positioning System Analysis of Physical Demands during Official Matches in the Spanish Futsal League

“…The antennas (mainly the master antenna) perform the computerizing of the position of the devices that are in their area of performance, while the devices receive that calculation [10], the radio frequency signal is almost under the same principle as the GPS system [22,23]. The validity and accuracy of this type of LPS has been demonstrated exposed in reference to determining distance covered, speed, mean velocity, accelerations and decelerations for intermittent activities [10,11,13,[24][25][26].…”

“…During the last few years, wearable technology such as global positioning systems (GPS) or other tracking sensors have begun to provide more valid, reliable and time-efficient measures that quantify and track team sport-specific demands during play, particularly in outdoor sports [7,8]. Recently, the progress in this kind of technology has made it possible to develop a Local Positioning System (LPS) with ultra-wideband technology (UWB) [9,10] to track indoor team sport requirements [11], making it possible to track time-motion analysis and physical demands in basketball [12], handball [13], and futsal [14]. This system is fixed and is not affected by environmental conditions [15], and the validity and accuracy of this type of LPS has been demonstrated [10].…”

Validation of Player and Ball Tracking with a Local Positioning System

“…Much effort can already be found in the validation of GPS [ 8 , 14 , 15 ], LPS [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 19 ] and VID [ 8 , 20 ]. Different sports like football [ 8 , 15 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], handball [ 24 ], ice hockey [ 18 ] or general sport-specific settings [ 8 , 9 , 17 , 20 ] are evaluated. Furthermore, some studies investigated comparability of results obtained from the three methods [ 8 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…This system is used in the first division of the German handball national league and also the Velux EHF Final4 to record matches since the 2019/2020 season [ 7 ]. A recent study from Fleureau et al looked at the validity of peak speed and acceleration of Kinexon’s LPS in handball specific movements [ 24 ]. They compared values to the results of simultaneous motion capture and concluded an acceptable validity.…”

“…They compared values to the results of simultaneous motion capture and concluded an acceptable validity. Care should be taken near the border of the playing field [ 24 ]. Alt et al investigated the running based validity of Kinexon’s LPS in a sport-specific circuit.…”