Validity and reliability of catapult vector S7 GNSS units in distance measurement

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Catapult Vector S7 GPS device in measuring total distance in a simulated team sport environment, with the specific goal of providing practical guidance for its application in sports science and practice. Methods Thirty university-level football players performed a Team Sport Simulation Cycle (TSSC), covering a total distance of 1200 m. Actual field measurements were used to test the validity of all values. A high-frequency (10 Hz) Catapult Vector S7 GPS unit was used to collect movement data, which was compared against reference tape measurements. Statistical analyses included SEM, CV%, SWC, MDC, MAPE%, MAE, RMSE, and Bland-Altman plots. Results The device demonstrated excellent reliability with a CV% of 0.17 and SEM of 2.00. The MDC (5.54) exceeded the SWC (2.19), suggesting high sensitivity in detecting meaningful performance changes. Validity analyses showed minimal error (MAPE% = 0.77; RMSE=11.55; MAE=9.40). Bland-Altman analysis indicated low systematic bias and high agreement with reference distances. Conclusions The Catapult Vector S7 GPS unit provides highly reliable and valid measurements of total distance, supporting its application in monitoring athlete workload and performance in team sports. These findings underscore the importance of high-frequency GPS technology in sports science research and practice, significantly contributing to the field.