Have you ever wondered if a gadget can actually make a young footballer better? Well, let me tell you about something my son, Cooper, and I have been testing for the past month —the PlayerMaker 2.0 GPS Tracker. It’s a smart soccer tracker that straps onto your boots and tracks just about everything: passes, touches, sprint speed, distance covered—you name it.
Now, I’ll be honest. When I first heard about it, I thought, Do we really need another sports tracker? I mean, we’ve got Fitbits, GPS watches, and all sorts of fancy apps, right? But trust me, this one’s different. It doesn’t just count steps or heart rate—it actually analyzes how you play in detail! And for a kid like Cooper, who’s obsessed with gadgets and football, it’s been a total game-changer.
So, let’s get into the details.
What is PlayerMaker 2.0?
Alright, so what exactly is PlayerMaker? In simple terms, it’s a performance-tracking GPS system designed specifically for footballers. Unlike wrist-based trackers or vest trackers, this one straps onto your boots via cleats (both feet) and uses sensors to track your every movement on the field.
The result? Insanely detailed stats on your game. It tells you how many touches you’ve made, how fast you sprinted, your pass accuracy, and even how much you use your weaker foot.
It’s not just for pros either. Cooper’s 10, plays for a local youth team (Great Wakering Colts Lions), and he’s absolutely loving it. If your kid (or you!) is serious about getting better at football, this thing could be gold.
Setup & Ease of Use
Now, let’s talk about getting started.
When we opened the box, everything was neatly packed—two small sensors, two straps to attach them to your boots, a charging dock, and a user guide.
Setting it up? Surprisingly simple. We downloaded the PlayerMaker app, paired the sensors via Bluetooth, and strapped them onto Cooper’s boots. Took us about five minutes tops.
The straps are lightweight and snug, so they don’t move around or feel uncomfortable. Cooper barely noticed them while playing. And trust me, if something bothers him while he’s on the field, I hear about it instantly!
TIP: It's easier to put the sensors into the straps before but the straps on the boots!
The app was a breeze to use, too. Once we finished a training session, we just synced the sensors, and boom—instant performance breakdown.
Features & Performance
Now, this is where things get really interesting.
A. Data Tracking & Accuracy
So, what exactly does PlayerMaker track? Here are some of the key stats we got after Cooper’s first training session:
- Total touches: How many times he touched the ball.
- Foot usage: Percentage of time spent using his left vs. right foot.
- Power: How hard you are hitting the ball
- Sprint speed & distance covered: How fast and how far he ran.
- Possession time: How long he had control of the ball.
- Agility: How quick you turn with the ball
- Total Work Rate: How much running you did.
- Dribbling: How often you dribbled with the ball.
And you won’t believe this—after just two sessions, we realized that Cooper was using his dominant right foot almost 90% of the time. That was a wake-up call! We’ve been working on his left foot for a while, but seeing the actual numbers made us both realize how much work was still needed.
B. Training Insights & Improvement Areas
Now, here’s the cool part. It doesn’t just dump numbers at you and leave you confused. The app actually highlights areas to improve.
For example, it suggested specific drills to improve Cooper’s balance between both feet. Plus, we could see whether his sprinting speed was improving from session to session. It’s like having a personal coach in your pocket!
C. Leaderboards & Competitive Edge – How PlayerMaker Stacks You Up Against Others
One of the coolest features of PlayerMaker—especially for kids like Cooper who love a bit of competition—is the leaderboard system. This isn’t just some random ranking; it’s a real-time comparison tool that lets players see how they measure up against others in their age group, skill level, or team.
PlayerMaker lets you compare stats with others in your age group, and suddenly, training turned into a game. He now checks after every match to see if he’s climbed the rankings. It’s added a fun, competitive edge that keeps him motivated.
Plus, the fact that he can track his progress over time? He loves it. He’s already setting personal goals, like “I want to hit 1,000 touches per session.”
So, what stats does the leaderboard track? Here’s a breakdown:
- Ball Possessions – How many times did you touch the ball?
- Top speed – Your top speed during training or a match.
- Work Rate – How much ground did you cover?
- Ball Possession time – How long were you actually on the ball?
Each of these metrics gets recorded and compared against other players using PlayerMaker, so kids can see where they rank. This could be over one day, over a week or any time.
Why Does This Matter?
For young athletes, having a benchmark to work towards is a huge motivator. Cooper checks his leaderboard rankings after every session to see if he’s moved up, which has made him way more focused on self-improvement.
It’s not just about beating other kids, though—it’s about progress. Even if Cooper doesn’t top the leaderboard, he can still see his own stats improving week by week, which is just as exciting.
It’s kind of like a real-life FIFA career mode, but instead of just playing the game, you’re living it!
Would this kind of competitive edge help motivate your young footballer? ⚽🔥
Durability & Battery Life
Let’s be real. Kids are not careful with their gear.
So, I was curious—how tough is this thing?
Well, after a week of training, running in mud, and a couple of heavy tackles, the sensors are still in perfect shape. They’re water-resistant, don’t come loose, and have held up well even after intense sessions.
Battery life? Pretty solid. We charged them fully once and only needed to top up after about four sessions (roughly 5-6 hours of playtime). The charging dock is super easy to use—just pop them in, and they’re ready to go in about two hours.
Parent’s Perspective – Is It Worth It?
Alright, let’s talk about whether this thing is worth the money.
If your kid plays football casually once a week, it might be overkill. But if they’re in an academy, playing competitively, or really keen on improving, it’s absolutely worth it.
Here’s why:
- It provides real, actionable insights into their game.
- It helps them track progress over time and stay motivated.
- It makes training fun and interactive.
As a parent, I love that Cooper is more engaged in his development. It’s not just me or his coach telling him to work on his weak foot—he can see the numbers himself. And that makes a huge difference.
Final Thoughts – Who is PlayerMaker For?
So, should you get PlayerMaker?
✔️ If your child is serious about football and wants to improve, yes.
✔️ If they love tracking progress and competing, absolutely.
✔️ If you’re a coach looking for extra data on your players, this could be a game-changer.
But… if your kid just enjoys a casual kickaround now and then? It’s probably not a must-have.
As for Cooper’s final verdict? He loves it. He’s more motivated, training harder, and actually having fun seeing his progress. For me, that’s worth every penny.
So, what do you think? Would you try something like this for your young footballer? Let me know!
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