Player Tracking System Market Analysis Report By Offering, By Technology, By End Use, By Region And Segment Forecasts From 2019 To 2025

Industry Insights

The global player tracking system market size was accounted for USD 2.26 billion in 2018. The market is predicted to expand at 25.4% CAGR over the forecast duration from 2019 to 2025. Increasing focus on tracking players and examining their physical metrics are driving the market growth. Real-time data from the field are helpful in improving the overall players’ performance. Considering this, several teams and their coaching staff are opting for player tracking solutions. This system enables the evaluation of team performance and maximizing their training curriculum.

The player tracking system provides real-time video footage, positional data, and performance metrics of players. Such information helps in optimizing individual and team performance. For example, in soccer, GPS trackers help in recording several performance metrics such as speed, acceleration, distance covered, and pulse rate. The coaching members can use these data to make an informed decision about players’ replacement and determining the exact players’ positions.

These days, players tracking systems are not deemed as a luxury but a necessary product as demand for players’ analytics is gaining traction. GPS tracker along with semi-automated cameras is a common strategy used in matches as well as training sessions. Leading football and cricket clubs are having s separate teams for data analytics.

Team owners are of the view that the lack of analytics technologies may put their team behind the competitors. This has led to increasing demand for coaches who are tech-savvy and can deploy various analytics technologies effectively. Therefore, the demand for players tracking systems in different sports such as soccer, tennis, cricket, rugby, and basketball is gaining traction across the world. Manchester United, Barcelona, Minnesota Vikings, Arsenal, Indian Cricket Team, and Brose Bamberg among others have adopted these technologies.

The player tracking systems also help in making the decision about the selection along with various other key decisions. For example, a Brazilian fitness coach FábioMahseredjian visited Europe to watch major football clubs like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and others. The coach used the data from training programs, GPS data, injuries tendency, and others to design a personalized training program.

Offering Insights

Depending on the offering, the player tracking systems market is segregated into services and solutions. In 2018, the solution category accounted for the largest share in the market. This segment covers GPS, optical tracking, Bluetooth, and other systems. These solutions are gaining traction in monitoring individual players and overall team performance.

By tracking several fitness parameters such as pulse rate, distance covered, running speed, and others, coaches identify the common cause of injuries. Sports such as cricket, football, rugby, and hockey require rapid movement that can cause injuries to players during matches and practice sessions. By tracking various fitness parameters, coaches can work on reducing the rate of occurring of injuries during training and tournaments.

Technology Insights

Based on the technology, the market is segmented into optical and wearable. In 2018, the optical category held the largest share in the market. This system uses several cameras along with software to track the players and mark their coordinates. Statistic-based algorithms later offer meaningful and accurate insights about weaknesses, uncoordinated moves, and the strengths of players.

Optical player tracking is mostly used where the tacking of multiple players is needed. This tracking system can either be installed in the field or stadium. Using processing software and HD cameras, this system can monitor various fitness parameters such as acceleration, stamina, endurance, and speed. In addition, it can produce video footage of the whole match that can be very useful in the post-match discussion. Bristol City Football Club and Qatar Stars League (QSL) are some major clubs using this system.

On the other hand, a wearable tracking system uses a chest vest and a tracking device. Four different kinds of sensors used in these systems are magnetometer, GPS module, gyro, and accelerometer. All these sensors play a unique role. For example, changes in force are measured by an accelerometer while gyro offers accelerometer data using the gravity of the earth.

End-use Insights

The player tracking systems are used in both individual and team sports. In 2018, the team sports segment held the largest share in the market. Further, this segment is bifurcated into rugby, basketball, football, and others. Of them, football was the leading shareholder in 2018. In 2015, the International Football Association Board has allowed the usage of the electronic tracking system. Further, FIFA in March 2018, allowed analytics of teams to share the live data about team performance during tournaments. Thus, these factors are encouraging the use of player tracking systems in football.

The optical player tracking system is ideal for teams and the wearable system finds its application for individual tracking. Wearable player tracking systems include vests worn by athletes and GPS trackers. These vests and GPS trackers help in offering precise data about the athlete’s performance. Based on the obtained data, coaches evaluate physical exertion and work rate to customize training programs.

Regional Growth

North America is one of the early adopters of this technology. In addition, the region is a home of various popular leagues such as Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and others. These leagues are increasingly using player tracking systems in one form or the other. Besides, Europe is the home of various football clubs, most of these clubs have incorporated player tracking systems to measure the performance of their teams.

APAC is projected to witness the fastest growth over the next six years. Increasing adoption of smart devices and technology penetration in sports are attributing to the growth of the region. In addition, the region is the home of some of the popular tournaments such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and others. Moreover, China is focusing on improving its football teams in view of the FIFA world cup. This, in turn, is estimated to augment the use of player tracking systems.

Impact of COVID-19

The outbreak of COVID-19 has severely affected the global players tracking system market. The pandemic has led to either cancellation or postponement of various games across the world. Tournaments such as National Basketball Association (NBA), Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo, Indian Premier League (IPL), Major League Soccer (MLS), Wimbledon, and others have either been canceled or postponed to a later date, thereby, declining the demand for player tracking system.

However, some sporting events such as bilateral cricket matches have started taking place with the bi-secure bubble in place. Other major events including IPL are rescheduled for a later date this year. Thus, these events are anticipated to generate the demand for player tracking systems despite the COVID-19 impact.

Player Tracking System Market Share Insights

Players in the market have a diverse customer base. Key players are in the market include Catapult Sports, Stats LLC, Sonda Sports, STATSports Group, Xampion, and ChyronHego Corporation among others. These players are undertaking various initiatives such as mergers & acquisitions, partnerships, and new product launches to strengthen their position in the market. For example, STATSports signed a deal with the Chinese Football Association to offer a GPS-based tracking system for players. The company has also collaborated with the Australian national soccer team to offer them GPS tracking services.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels, and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2015 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Million Insights has segmented the global player tracking system market report on the basis of offering, technology, end-use, and region:

• Offering Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • Solution
    • Services

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • Optical
    • Wearables
        • Satellite
        • Others (Bluetooth, LPS, and RFID)

• End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • Individual
        • Tennis
        • Golf
        • Others
    • Team Sports
        • Football
        • Basketball
        • Rugby
        • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)
    • North America
        • The U.S.
        • Canada
    • Europe
        • Germany
        • The U.K.
    • the Asia Pacific
        • China
        • Australia
        • Japan
    • Latin America
        • Brazil
        • Mexico
    • MEA