The Florida State University football team is using harnesses with GPS tracking to prevent injuries. The harness, which weighs about an ounce and fits under the shoulder pads players wear, has been key to an injury-free season.
FSU coaching staff uses the the harness to measure fatigue, performance, and health of the players. Coach Jimbo Fisher believes the GPS tracking device is to credit for fewer preventable injuries like pulled muscles and strained ligaments. In the last two years, those injuries have dropped by 88 percent.
Australian company, Catapult Sports, developed the GPS tracking harness in the 1990s and in 2012 FSU purchased 30 units for $80,000. Currently 15 teams in the NFL use Catapult’s GPS technology.