In short
You can measure how far and how fast footballers ran without GPS vests, from the match video. From the video you get distance, sprints, top speed and a heat map for every player. It measures both teams, not only your own squad, and nobody has to wear anything. For your own squad's daily training load, a vest is still more precise.
What GPS vests do, and where they stop
GPS vests are the standard way to measure running in football. A small unit in a vest records each player's position many times a second, and the club gets distance, speed and acceleration for every session. They are precise, and for training load they are hard to beat.
They also have limits that matter to most clubs below the top level:
- They cost money per player. Units, vests, charging and a subscription, for every player in the squad.
- They only measure your own players. The opponent wears nothing, so you learn nothing about them.
- Someone has to run them. Hand out vests, charge units, collect data. On a matchday with volunteer staff, that is one job too many.
- Some competitions do not allow them, and some players simply forget to wear them.
How video measures running
Match video already contains the information. Analysis software does three things with it:
Follows every player
Every player, all match long, with who is who kept straight.
Knows where he is
Where on the grass each player stands, even as the camera pans.
Measures the movement
From the position over time come distance covered, sprints, top speed and a heat map of where he played.
Because it works from the picture, both teams are measured from the same video, and so is the referee.
Video or vests: which should you use?
| Compared | GPS vests | Match video |
|---|---|---|
| Your own squad | Yes, very precise | Yes |
| The opponent | No | Yes |
| Training sessions | Yes | Only if you film them |
| Something to wear | A vest and a unit per player | Nothing |
| Clips of each moment | No | Yes, from the same video |
Many clubs will use both: vests for training load, video for matches and for the opponent. If you have no vests, video is the way to get running data at all.
What to expect from video running data
Video sees what is in the picture. When the camera follows the play, players far from the ball are sometimes out of shot, and those moments cannot be measured. A camera that stands high, follows the play smoothly and keeps the whole match on screen gives the most complete numbers. Our filming guide covers the details.
In SeeKick every named player gets distance, sprints, top speed and a heat map, on his own player page and in the match report. Women's matches are measured with women's speeds. See running data for what you get.
Questions
Can you measure distance covered in football without GPS?
Yes. From the match video you can get distance covered, sprints, top speed and a heat map, with nothing to wear.
Is video running data as accurate as GPS vests?
For your own squad, a vest is more precise. Video measures what is in the picture, so moments when a player is out of shot are not counted. Its advantage is that it measures both teams with nothing to wear.
Can I get running data for the opposition?
Yes, from video. The opponent's players are in the same picture, so they are measured the same way as yours. Vests can only measure the players wearing them.
What do I need to get running data from video?
A video of the full match from one camera, filmed from high up near the halfway line, and both team sheets so players can be named.