FIFA Innovation Programme Challenge 2 case study: Lower-limb mounted devices within football

Abstract

The FIFA Innovation Programme Challenge 2, focuses on the use of lower-limb mounted devices within Football. The programme was created as a vehicle for new technologies to be allowed to be worn in official FIFA matches, which required six criteria to be met prior to completion. These criteria were, 1) Pass the current FIFA Basic test, 2) Assess new potential methods of testing specific impacts on lower limb devices, 3) Pass the current FIFA Quality test for Electronic Performance Tracking Systems (assessing the validity of the system against a criterion measure), 4) Examine the usability of lower limb mounted devices in actual football match play, 5) Interview club practitioners and gain their feedback on using the systems, and 6) Explore the safety of the system by comparisons to injury surveillance data. In the current case study, a foot-mounted inertial measurement unit (Playermaker), was assessed using the above outlined criteria. The results of the six criteria are presented in the manuscript, with the foot-mounted inertial measurement unit now being permitted to be worn in official match play as an outcome of the FIFA Innovation Programme Challenge 2.