GPS Technology Brings New Precision to Polo Training in Research

 Polo is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with technology offering new ways to understand how teams and players perform on the field. One promising tool is GPS, which can track the movement of polo horses and riders during play.

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A recent study examined how GPS technology could be used to measure the movement of polo horses and ponies, providing information about distance, speed, and positioning. This type of data could give coaches a much clearer picture of how players and horses move throughout a match.

The possibilities extend beyond simply tracking individual performance. Coaches could use spatial data to evaluate where team members are positioned, how effectively they cover different zones of the field, and how well they coordinate their movements with one another.

Ultimately, this technology could provide valuable feedback during training. Instead of relying entirely on observation, coaches could use objective movement data to identify patterns, improve positioning, and help players develop better coordination and spatial awareness.

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Feasibility of a Global Positioning System to Assess the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Polo Performance

• The study examined whether GPS technology could reliably measure movement and performance characteristics in polo.
• Researchers collected GPS data from 37 unique rider-horse interactions during polo activities.
• Measures included distance covered, speed, sprint frequency, and time spent in different speed zones.
• The GPS measurements demonstrated strong reliability, with most measures showing an intraclass correlation coefficient above 0.70 and a coefficient of variation below 10%.
• The researchers concluded that GPS devices can effectively measure polo performance, and riders can use either traditional placement or a belt-based placement depending on preference and practicality.

Best, R., & Standing, R. (2019). Feasibility of a global positioning system to assess the spatiotemporal characteristics of polo performance. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 79, 59–62. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080619303697?via%3Dihub