Revolutionary? PlayerMaker Wearable Football Boot Sensor - All You Need To Know
Oct 23, 2019, by Chris
Last week, we reported that Argentina's U23 team was wearing a strange yet possibly revolutionary product on their boots - PlayerMaker. Today we want to take an in-depth look at PlayerMaker.
Basically, it can be said that PlayerMaker is a player’s performance measuring system. In contrast to other performance measuring system (GPS systems), it is especially made for football teams - PlayerMaker analyzes technical skills.
⚽️🐺 En el día de hoy el plantel se entrenó en el predio @afa de Ezeiza, bajo las órdenes de Diego A. Maradona y su cuerpo técnico.
— GIMNASIA 🐺 (@gimnasiaoficial) October 3, 2019
🇦🇷🙌🏻#DaleLobo pic.twitter.com/u5e6eVzoxc
PlayerMaker- Player’s Performance Measuring Boot Sensor
PlayerMaker consists of a special sensor that is applied to a player's boot in order to measure all elements that are important for a footballer - it does not only track the distance a player is covering but much more stats, including the number of touches and passes.
All the measured data can be viewed shortly after a session / match. Coaches and players are able to directly compare the data with other player, previous performances and much more.
PlayerMaker is used by many football teams worldwide, including some Premier League teams as well as teams from MLS. The product is currently making its way to Spain - we would not wonder if we would soon see it regularly in training sessions of many teams.
Below are some questions you might have about the product, as from the company's website FAQ.
PlayerMaker FAQ From Their Website
General
Is the PlayerMaker technology available for other sports?
For now our focus is football only. The PlayerMaker product is designed to provide football teams with the most powerful solution and the best experience. The underlying capabilities of the technology that allows us to track the biomechanics of the lower limbs could be applied to multiple different sports in the future.
What is the price of the system?
Our price varies according to a club’s needs and customisation requirements. We have various packages aimed at different clubs levels which can be viewed here. Our pricing model is an annual subscription per player account, the hardware is provided by PlayerMaker as a service.
Product
Are teams allowed to wear the sensors during official games?
The sensors cannot currently be worn in official matches at first team level throughout the leagues, but at academy level, there are no issues in wearing them in matches.
Does the sensor interfere with the player’s performance during playing?
It’s understandable that with an external product people may think it affects performance. However, the sensor is roughly 3cm and has been specifically designed not to interfere with any ball striking zones on the foot and does not affect a player’s on-pitch performance. Feedback from players wearing the product has been 100% positive. The sensor has been designed by Erez Morag, the specialist responsible for the Nike Mercurial Vapor.
Are the sensors resistant to different weather conditions?
Yes, the sensors have been tested to withstand all weather conditions and elements.
How does PlayerMaker differentiate to GPS?
PlayerMaker measures many more data points and therefore produces a more detailed analysis than GPS products. PlayerMaker includes Distance Driven Data which allows biomechanical analysis and gait tracking of players. Technical and tactical data are also produced for every training session and every match. All of the KPIs you can get from a GPS tool, PlayerMaker can also provide. GPS relies on satellites, products measure the center of mass and the position of the product on a player’s back. PlayerMaker sensors are fixed to a boot and work equally well indoors or outdoors.
Can you view the data live?
No, data cannot be utilised live, however, the data are available roughly 2-5 minutes after a session has finished. There are no time-consuming processes such as lengthy downloads in order to upload the data.
Can I purchase the system for one player only?
It is not currently possible to do this.
PlayerMaker Review Possibly Coming Soon
We will try to test the PlayerMaker gadget for you to see if it fulfills the high expectations. We are especially interested if it anyhow affects the on-pitch performance and how does it feel like in general.
What do you think of the PlayerMaker performance gadget? Would you like your club to have something like this? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Wellington Phoenix 26-27 Home Kit Released
A-League club Wellington Phoenix and apparel partner Dynasty Sport have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 26-27 season. Celebrating the club's 20th anniversary campaign, the design delivers a direct throwback homage to the inaugural strip worn during the 2007-08 season.
The Dynasty Wellington Phoenix 26-27 home jersey features a predominantly black body accented by distinctive curved yellow and white panels sweeping across the shoulders and flanks, echoing the aesthetics of the club's debut kit. Significant cultural elements are embedded throughout, with the central Te Raukura white feather plume positioned on the chest alongside the club crest, and a tohu pattern incorporated into the side paneling. The inside collar features custom anniversary lettering reading 'Wellington Phoenix 20th Season Anniversary 2007-2027'.
Completed with matching black shorts and black socks, the kit is available immediately via the Phoenix online store and select regional retailers. The men's team features Entelar Group as main sponsor, while the women's edition showcases OPPO on the front.
Adidas National University Philippines 26-27 Kits Released
Adidas has officially unveiled the new football kits for National University (NU) in the Philippines, continuing the brand's ongoing partnership with the NU Bulldogs collegiate teams in the UAAP. As the country's first private, non-sectarian university, NU receives a sharp, bespoke set of uniforms tailored to its athletic heritage.
The new home jersey arrives in the university's classic deep navy blue, highlighted by rich gold accents on the collar, sleeve trim, and signature Three Stripes. A prominent retro-inspired 'National U' wordmark graphic stretches across the chest, complemented by a centered Adidas Performance logo and matching gold squad numbers. Completing the look are navy shorts and socks detailed with gold branding.
The away uniform reverses the aesthetic onto a crisp white base, finished with the same navy and gold chest branding and sleeve detailing. Alongside the outfield jerseys, Adidas also revealed a light pink goalkeeper kit featuring gold trim, giving the NU Bulldogs a complete, unified look across the pitch.
Special Farnham Town 26-27 Oktoberfest Shirt Released
English club Farnham Town has officially released a special limited-edition shirt to celebrate Oktoberfest for the 26-27 season. The one-off design arrives ahead of the club's dedicated matchday event scheduled for their home fixture against Salisbury on Saturday, October 10.
The shirt is heavily inspired by traditional Bavarian themes, featuring Bavaria's iconic blue and white diamond pattern across the entire body and sleeves. It is finished with a classic white spread polo collar paired with a V-neck cut, while a golden beer barrel graphic sits on the right chest opposite the Farnham Town FC club crest. Spanning across the midriff is an ornate gold "Oktoberfest" script complete with integrated barrel details.
Produced by LS4 Sport, who partners with the club alongside their primary kit supplier, the special release is completely separate from their standard 26-27 league kits. The shirt is available for pre-order through the club's online shop for £40 in strictly limited quantities.
Barnsley 26-27 Third Kit Released
Barnsley FC and technical partner Oxen have officially launched the club's new third kit for the 26-27 campaign. The release serves as the final chapter in the club's "Toby Tyke trilogy," following the houndstooth-patterned home shirt and star-clustered away kit, bringing the beloved mascot directly to the forefront.
The Oxen Barnsley 26-27 third shirt is predominantly white with light grey elements and bright green trim on the v-neck collar, cuffs, and side panels. Instead of the standard club crest, the jersey showcases a redrawn vintage Toby Tyke mascot in a green kit clutching a football positioned centrally on the chest. An intricate, all-over tonal print covers the body and sleeves, repeating Toby Tyke and the retro "The Tykes" typography, which is also neatly printed on the upper back.
Created in collaboration with creative studio VFILES, club director Julie Anne Quay, and a lifelong Barnsley supporter, the shirt features centered black branding from Oxen and main sponsor The Investment Room, alongside Weston Park Cancer Charity on the sleeve and Parliament on the lower back. The look is completed with white shorts and bright green and white socks.
