In this article we discuss the evolving use of technology that enhances sport via data driven solutions. Footbar appeared on our radar at the Middle East Event Show in Dubai where we met the Co-Founder Nicolas Frotiee. We delve into the benefits, capabilities, and impacts it brings to the game.
A player who has accurate performance stats is 70% more likely to secure a professional contract
What was the original idea for Footbar?
Footbar was founded in France in 2014 by two football-passionate engineers and is now expanding to the Middle East. The company was built on the vision of transforming high-performance tracking in football through an AI-powered tracker that blends advanced technology with the love of the game. Thanks to its tracker and associated app, Footbar provides cutting-edge technology that aims to help all players analyze their physical and technical statistics in a playful environment that pushes them to excel. Raphael Varane was seduced by the idea and joined the journey in 2024 to become the brand ambassador.
How many parameters do Footbar devices analyse?
Footbar tracks 10 key metrics, divided into technical and physical data:
- Technical Statistics:
1.Shots: Includes shots, crosses, and clearances.
2.Max Shot Speed: The speed of the most powerful shot recorded.
3.Average Shot Speed: The average speed of all recorded shots.
4. Possession: The total time a player has control of the ball.
5. Passes: The total number of passes made within a given period. - Physical Statistics:
6. Distance: The total distance covered by a player during their active time, whether walking or running, regardless of speed.
7. Activity: The percentage of time a player spends running relative to their total recorded activity time.
8. Sprints: The number of runs where a player accelerates and reaches at least 30% more than their average speed.
9. Max Sprint Speed: The highest speed recorded during a sprint.
10. Average Sprint Speed: The average of all speeds recorded during a player’s sprints.
Thanks to advancements in AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), Footbar is preparing to introduce new football-specific metrics. Our AI, powered by a leg-mounted tracker that has collected data from over a million matches across Europe, could soon provide insights into deceleration, ball-carrying runs, jumps, etc… taking player analysis even further.
Affordable, Accurate, and Accessible
Traditional high-end tracking systems, often GPS-based, have been prohibitively expensive and primarily used by elite football clubs or professional organizations. Their costs, coupled with technical complexities, have limited widespread access in grassroots or amateur settings.
Footbar’s breakthrough lies in its ability to deliver elite-level accuracy at a significantly lower price point. Its AI-driven hardware leverages smart industrialization techniques, enabling the production of reliable devices at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. Priced at AED 290 (including VAT) in the UAE, the device is accessible to a broad base of users, including youth academies, amateur clubs, and individual players.
This affordability ensures that more athletes, regardless of background or level, can benefit from data-driven insights, allowing them to open a new chapter in football development and training.
The Impact of Accurate Performance Data
A player who has accurate performance stats is 70% more likely to secure a professional contract and align their pathway to becoming a pro. Access to precise, objective data allows players and coaches to identify strengths, address weaknesses, and make informed decisions about training and development. This statistical insight fosters confidence and clarity in career progression, opening doors to professional opportunities.
Coaches and players can then interpret this data to refine training, optimize workloads, and track progression over time. For example, tracking high-intensity efforts and sprint distances over a season helps identify areas of improvement, assess fatigue, and motivate athletes to push their limits.
Transforming Football at All Levels
Accessibility to detailed data is particularly impactful in youth and women’s football, historically underrepresented in high-performance tracking technologies due to cost constraints. Footbar’s affordability helps bridge this gap, empowering young players to monitor their progress and ultimately improve their skills, boosting confidence and retention. Similarly, in women’s football, where resources are often limited, Footbar offers vital insights that support skill development and inclusivity.
In addition, data-driven metrics enable coaches to tailor training sessions, manage workloads, and develop personalized improvement plans for each athlete to ensure efficient and effective player development.
Trusted by Leading Clubs and Federations:
Here are a some key-partnerships we have with Clubs & federations:
- Red Star (France): Hundreds of Footbar trackers are used across the academy, reserve team, and women’s team, tracking players from age 10 up to the semi-pro level. With our technology integrated throughout the club, the staff can monitor player development over the years, from the academy to the professional squad, and assess the impact of their training philosophy across different age groups.
- KNVB: The Dutch Football Federation uses our devices to make data accessible to their grassroots players. Following extensive testing against the GPS systems used by their national team, they validated our accuracy, noting that in some metrics, our technology even outperformed their existing system. As a result, they now endorse and distribute our device as an “official KNVB-supported product.” A full test report is available upon request.
- FFF: Footbar is currently running a POC with the French Football Federation after winning the Trophées du Football Amateur in the “New Practices” category. As part of this initiative, we are equipping all U14 R1 players in the Haute-Garonne district to give them access to their performance data, helping them stay engaged at a crucial age when many drop out due to competing interests like social media and video games. By offering a fun and inclusive experience, we aim to keep young players motivated and connected to football. This project also fosters community engagement by introducing a unique competition format, powered by a digital app where players challenge each other both on and off the pitch.
Over the past year, Footbar has expanded globally, with 1 in 2 sensors sold internationally and users now spanning more than 30 countries.
Where to Find?
You can find order online your tracker on Footbar.me or on amazon.ae, or directly in the Decathlon stores in the UAE.
