If you use fitbit, meet its cousin on steroids, WHOOP. It is worn on the wrist but tracks data such as heart-rate. It has an accelerometer to detect when you are moving. The main thing it calculates is HRV.
A coaching guide says this: “HRV has been shown in numerous studies to positively correlate with athletic performance and training adaptation, and to negatively correlate with risk of overtraining and injuries. This document provides coaches with an overview of HRV with a focus on its utility as an athlete training tool.”
WHOOP can also be used to spot over-training—not just by measuring time spent in exertion, but by an HRV that correlates with an increased risk of injury. See http://whoop.com/validation/hrv-overview.pdf?_ga=1.183336355.48521612.1480105655.
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement has new language on whether a team can collect data from WHOOP and similar wearables.
To summarize:
Art. XXII, Section 13 is specifically devoted to wearables.
A wearable is a device that is worn by a player that collects movement and biometric data.
Teams may ask players to wear these devises and allow teams to access data.
Players who agree to this request must be given the same data as the team.
Data can’t be used in negotiations.
The league and players union will develop more standards for the use of wearables.
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Again, I welcome your thoughts!
