Gothenburg gold weapons: Advanced GPS System
Players in better shape - thanks to the aid

GOTHENBURG. The hard match making last summer cost IFK Gothenburg the Swedish title.
Now the players are clearly better trained - partly thanks to an advanced GPS system.
- We have great use of it, says physio Johan Kristoffersson.


Today's match with IFK Norrköping is the start of a very busy period for series leader IFK Gothenburg .
If Europe League qualifying, which kicks off on Thursday, goes as planned to play two games a week for a good while to come.
It was also last year at this time, and when did the players in the end not of the increased load and the results were then. From 24 July to 13 August Blåvitt played seven games in a row without winning. A gloomy suite which meant the exodus from Europa League qualifiers and lost ten points in the headlines.

To avoid a similar scenario has IFK Gothenburg placed great emphasis on the physical side.
A work that actually started before last season when then-coach Mikael Stahre handpicked physio Johan Kristoffersson, which he knew well since AIK-time, from IFK Varnamo.
- We want to train a lot and with great quality. We started already last year, but there is even more emphasis on physical side this year. Each week is about finding a form upcoming match, said Kristoffersson.
Gives players feedback
And this season, IFK Gothenburg bought a GPS system for SEK 250 000 to help train the team to keep accurate track of the players' performance during training (not allowed in the match). One to two times a week, players wear vests with a small unit at the back and chest strap around your chest. The units are linked to a satellite and gives a lot of information.
- We wanted it already last year. You can check millions stuff but we have chosen to focus on the high-intensity training. You can check out how fast a run is and in which direction, and exactly how many meters you run is high intensity. Then we give the players feedback. We coaches have great use of it, continues Kristoffersson.
Longer workouts
For instance, the Premier League is the GPS standard in all the clubs, but in Sweden it is as yet few teams that use it, including Elfsborg and Malmö FF.
But advanced technology is not the only change IFK Gothenburg have been made ​​under head coach Jörgen Lennartsson's management. The training sessions are much longer, often up to two hours compared to one hour and a quarter last year. It has also put in pure pre-season training during the off season.
- We put a lot of effort into endurance. It is very important to press it and maintain that piece. We run a lot of interval training both with and without the ball. We want to be at the forefront and have now run tougher for the Europa League qualifiers, said Kristoffersson.
Minor injury problems
And the hard training has given the desired results. IFK Gothenburg have determined several matches in the final minutes and is well equipped for a tight schedule against top opposition.
- Players are a little stronger, a little more explosive and sustained this season. Now when we go into the European game you have to be extremely careful about diet, sleep, exercise and recovery. Some experience of gambling in Europe also play a role, he says.
Another positive effect of the change in the training set-up is to get the players have had problems with injuries.
- It has seen very good on the injury front and it is linked to people's well trained, so it is absolutely, says Johan Kristoffersson.

How GPS system VX Sport

-The players are wearing chest strap around your chest and special vests. At the rear of the vests is a small device with various sensors, including accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and GPS receiver.
-During a 90-minute workouts can get over a million data points on a single player. Among other measured number of sprints, speed, intensity, direction, position and heart rate.
-All the information can then be simplified in a computer program and you can see both the team's and individual's development and what needs to be adjusted to obtain optimal performance. 4 Training can also be organized with the help of all data, both in the short and long term.
-The coach Jörgen Lennartsson of aid: "The players are well trained and rap. We are definitely ready for the many matches in a short time. We've worked hard to combine sprinting runs with games. Much is all about speed. To make many runs at high speed. Do not run long and slowly, but often and fast. "