Every day FGCU men's soccer assistant coach Dallas Fiszel brings a briefcase to practice. It isn't full of money like the ones in the movies or bursting with papers like an old-school office worker. Instead, it has one-inch by one-inch GPSs, which have revolutionized how the Eagles train.
“The way it can be used is pretty dramatic," FGCU Head Coach Jesse Cormier said.
FGCU is tracking every step this season, literally. During all practices and games, the Eagles wear black vests that hold little GPSs. Don't let the size fool you, though. The little machines track mounds of data.
“Really everything – distance, sprints, lateral movements," Fiszel, who is in charge of the GPSs, said.
All of that information is then compiled onto a computer that the coaches check out almost daily. They use the data points to help prevent injuries, evaluate players' performances and tailor their training to the team's needs.
“It can help the coaching staff recognize when it’s important to push and when it’s important to back off," Cormier said.
The players get to see their numbers, too. Cormier sends them out at the end of each week as a way of congratulating the hard workers and motivating those who need to put in more effort. The guys have even turned it into a little competition.
“It also makes it a little bit fun," FGCU midfielder Shachar Nissim said.
It is fun mixed with better performance on the pitch. Technology is helping FGCU Men's Soccer stay ahead of the curve.
“The monitoring and the science kind of puts fact to what you see," Cormier said.
FGCU hosts Utah Valley University on Sunday for its home opener.