Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part F (2025)

This article examines the integrated use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies and inertial measurement units (IMU) for monitoring the external load of football players, to optimize the training process, individualize workloads, and reduce injury risk. The relevance of the study is driven by the increasing demands on players’ physical preparedness and the need for objective control over the intensity of competitive and training activities. The newness of the work lies in the methodical evaluation of the prospects of GPS and IMU as supplementary aids, apart from checking sensor data fusion techniques to attain precise measurement amidst great dynamics and signal unsteadiness. The study made it clear that GPS systems are able to provide spatiotemporal characteristics of movement like distance and speed, intensity zones, or heat maps; on the other hand, inertial sensors can pick up microdynamics related to acceleration or deceleration, change of direction, jumping as well as collision events. Therefore, these technologies produce a very holistic picture of work that can be related to tactical context consideration, recovery monitoring, injury prevention, and training program adaptation to players’ characteristics. Limitations were identified as measurement errors, operational conditions, standardization of installation and calibration protocols, and financial and organizational implementation aspects. This article sheds immense benefits to sports scientists, coaches, analysts, and medical staff of football teams who have a direct or indirect role in the process of monitoring and controlling the physical load of athletes.