Comparison
KAIZEA vs. Catapult — GPS hardware or hardware-free load management?
Catapult is one of the leading GPS platforms for professional clubs. KAIZEA manages training load for amateur clubs hardware-free, via validated Session RPE. Both solve different problems — this comparison shows exactly where.
The problem
Why isn’t GPS tracking an option for most amateur clubs?
Because GPS systems like Catapult are built for professional clubs with a dedicated sports data team — the purchase cost, ongoing effort, and feature set target a different budget and a different need than an amateur club has.
GPS hardware costs money before the first training session
Sensors, vests, and licenses are a purchase before a single ball has rolled — often the first hurdle for an amateur club without a sponsorship budget.
Effort before and after every session
Hand out vests, charge them, calibrate, then read out and export the data after training — time a volunteer coach doesn’t have on a Tuesday evening.
Pro tools for pro problems
Millimeter-accurate sprint and contact data is built for tactical analysis in elite sport. Most amateur clubs first need simple load management, not movement analysis.
No IT team at the club
Setting up, maintaining, and evaluating GPS systems takes technical know-how that’s rarely available on a volunteer basis.
Why it matters: Session RPE — perceived exertion (1–10) multiplied by session duration in minutes — is a validated, hardware-free method for measuring training load (Foster et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2001). For load management in amateur football it delivers comparably reliable values to GPS systems — with no sensors, charging cycles, or calibration.
Where KAIZEA is different
How does KAIZEA manage training load without GPS?
Instead of reading positional data off sensors, KAIZEA asks every player directly: how hard was the session? KAIZEA automatically multiplies that rating (1–10) by session duration into Session RPE and the load traffic light — validated, hardware-free, no purchase required.
- 10-second RPE entry per player and session
- No purchase, no charging, no calibration
- Ready to use instantly on any smartphone
- Load traffic light calculated automatically from RPE + attendance
AI Briefing · Today
Max S. is on amber: his load has climbed sharply. Ease off the intensity today by ~20%.
Max S. should rest today: light is red, sleep quality low.
The remaining 18 players are in the green zone.
FIG. 01 · Load traffic light instead of a GPS export Comparison
KAIZEA or Catapult — what fits your club?
As of July 2026. Information on Catapult is based on publicly available sources and may change.
| Criterion | KAIZEA | Catapult |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware required | No | Yes (GPS sensors) |
| Target audience | Amateur & semi-pro clubs | Pro & national teams |
| Upfront investment | No purchase needed | Hardware investment per player |
| Tracking method | Session RPE (self-assessment) | GPS + accelerometers |
| Load management | Load traffic light, calculated from RPE | Workload metrics from positional data |
| AI briefings | Included | Limited |
| Setup | Instant, on any smartphone | Days to weeks (hardware + setup) |
| GDPR / EU hosting | EU servers (Germany + Netherlands) | Verification required |
Switching isn’t a dead end: KAIZEA starts completely hardware-free via RPE and can later be extended with heart-rate strap or GPS data as your club grows — without losing the history gathered up to that point.
What you get
What does this mean for your club’s day to day?
-
10 seconds instead of calibrating
Every player logs their perceived exertion right after training — no vests, no read-out, no data export.
-
Foster-validated
Session RPE is a scientifically validated method for measuring training load (Foster et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2001) — not a workaround, but a recognized alternative to GPS.
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Ready to use instantly
KAIZEA runs on any smartphone, with no purchase and no setup week.
-
GPS can be added later, optionally
As your club scales up, wearable or GPS data can be added on top — the Load Index stays the shared foundation across every stage.
How the Load Index scales →
Scalable
How does KAIZEA grow with your club — up to GPS?
KAIZEA starts completely hardware-free via RPE — that’s enough for the full load traffic light. As your club upgrades later, further data sources dock on, without replacing the core or losing history.
Manual — RPE + duration
Players log their perceived exertion (1–10) after every session; KAIZEA automatically multiplies it by session duration into Session RPE. That’s enough for the full load traffic light — no hardware required.
+ Wellness check-in
The daily wellness check-in adds a readiness view to the Load Index — early warning signs often show up before the traffic light itself changes.
+ Heart-rate strap
Heart-rate data refines load measurement with an objective physiological value, without replacing RPE.
+ GPS
GPS data adds positional and running metrics for clubs that have already invested in hardware — the Load Index stays the shared foundation across every stage.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Catapult suited for?
Catapult targets professional clubs and national teams with dedicated sports data departments. Hardware purchase, licensing fees, and the technical operation required make it impractical for most amateur clubs.
Who is KAIZEA suited for?
KAIZEA is built for amateur clubs, semi-pro teams, and coaches without an IT background. No hardware purchase, no technical team required — load management runs on Session RPE, right on the smartphone.
Is KAIZEA’s data as reliable as GPS systems?
Session RPE — perceived exertion (1–10) multiplied by session duration in minutes — is a validated, hardware-free method for measuring training load (Foster et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2001). For load management it delivers comparably reliable values to GPS systems. GPS additionally provides positional data for tactical analysis — something most amateur clubs don’t need.
Do I need GPS trackers to get started with KAIZEA?
No. KAIZEA starts completely hardware-free via Session RPE — that’s enough for the full load traffic light. Wearable or GPS data can be added later, optionally.
Can my club use GPS data later on?
Yes. KAIZEA is built as a 4-tier system: manual RPE entry, optionally extended with wellness check-in, heart-rate strap, and finally GPS. As your club upgrades, the additional data sources dock on without replacing the core or losing history.
Can I export data from KAIZEA as my club grows?
Yes. All KAIZEA data is exportable. If your club reaches professional level with its own sports data team, the load data gathered so far is portable.
More: Load Index & traffic light · KAIZEA vs. Kinexon · Pilot program
Last updated: July 2026
The next step
Next season, your club runs on one platform.
We'll show you KAIZEA in 20 minutes: honest, no obligation, in plain English. Then you decide.
KAIZEA · kaizea.com