Over the last 3 years, Australian technology company Catapult has been changing the landscape of the National Football League from practices, to recovery from injuries, and even game planning. Michael Regan, the head of sports science for Catapult recently told Sports Illustrated that 13 NFL teams currently use the technology. According to Gary Mccoy, an applied sports scientist with Catapult, three of those teams are the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The key to the technology is a 3.5 ounce monitor the players wear between their shoulder blades. According to Catapults official site, one feature of the technology is the ability to track athletes performance on the practice field and off the field in real time and sending the information to an online profile set up for each player. Being able to do this, gives coaches the ability to compare a players current performance with past performance. Not only does it do that, it also gives coaches and management the ability to compare the player to other players at the same position throughout the league. Another of the many features of the technology is the effect on injury prevention and rehab. Through the technology, you are able to gather a profile of the players physical abilities and therefore are aware of the levels each player is supposed to be at. Having this information makes it easier to avoid injuries. The levels allow trainers to set certain limits in a players rehab they shouldn't exceed which decreases the chance of the player aggravating the injury and missing more time.
Even though using a tracking system like this during games isn't currently allowed, it may change. As Tom Myslinski, strength and condition coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars said, "This has made me a better coach. This is where it is going."
The video below will give you a more detailed look at the system.