What is a Sportreact timing gate?
Timing gates are laser beam sensors spaced out between the pods setup to keep tabs on how long it takes for athletes to make their moves. They measure speed, agility, acceleration, and deceleration.
How to set up timing gates in the field?
Step 1: Position two pods (attached to tripods, 2 even or 2 odd) facing each other. Typically, gates sit around 2-3 meters apart, but you can stretch it up to a 10-meter pod-to-pod gap.
Step 2: Ensure the pods are at the same height and angle to align perfectly.
Step 3: Once the pods are in place, they will automatically show a green light and the gate will turn green in the app.
If the lights and app show a red light, the alignment is off. In this case, hit the retry button, realign and wait about 5 seconds for the system to catch up and check the alignment again.
You will also notice the "Add distance" button between each gate. This comes in handy if you're aiming to measure velocity, which will be calculated in the analytics later. Just tap the button, include the distance for your test, and you are all set.
How to create a custom activity in the Sportreact timing gates system?
To start creating a custom test, decide which gates you want to include. With Sportreact, you can add up to 6 gates simply by connecting to 12 pods.
In the Timing System, you get to pick the Workout and General Rules for your exercise. The General Rules? Same deal as the Reaction System. But when it comes to Workout Rules, there are a few quirks. Adding athletes is a breeze, just like in reaction mode. To set up those gates, head over to the "Setup Gates" section. The system automatically generates gates based on how many pods you've hooked up.
Quick note: If you don't have at least two connected pods (forming one gate), you can't set up this workout.
Gates are listed in the overview, tagged with pod numbers like 0-1, 2-3, 4-5, and so on. You can max out at six gates (using 12 pods). You've got the flexibility to remove gates and shuffle them around in your workout with a simple drag and drop. No need to stick to starting from the 0-1 gate – feel free to arrange them however you like, even kick off from 4-5 if that suits you.
Selecting Gates:
Step 1: Add the timing gates you want to include in the test. Selecting a gate is easy—just press the gate you want to include, and it will appear in the order below.
Step 2: To add distance between gates for measuring velocity, simply click the 'Add Distance' button and enter the required distance for your test.
Step 3: To reorder gates, simply drag and drop the gate to your desired position.
Workout options in the timing gates system:
Example: 0-10-30 meters sprint
Use for: Explosive power, sprint mechanics, acceleration , maximum velocity, overall speed, performance tracking, speed optimization.
Say you are up for a straightforward 30-meter sprint test, but also keen on checking out the acceleration in the first 10 meters. For this, you will need three gates or 6 connected pods. Navigate to setup gates, pick gate 0-1 as your starting point, then gate 2-3 for the 10-meter mark, and finally, gate 4-5 for the finish line. Align those three gates on the field, place the pods in front of each other, check for that green indicator, and you are all set.
Example: 5-10-5 test
Use for: Lateral quickness, change of direction, balance, reaction time, body control, acceleration, deceleration.
If you are in the mood for a customized 5-10-5 test, you only need 1 gate. Choose gates 0-1 three times, and you've got three stations for each section of the test. Just ensure that the 0-1 gate is aligned, and that's it! Now you can save your custom drill and dive into the workout.
How to troubleshoot timing gate issues in the Sportreact app?
If the indicator turns red or if the gates are not tracking the time as they are supposed to, there might be an issue:
-Turn the pods off and back on, and sync them again.
-Double-check your internet connection, ensure Bluetooth and location are on.
- Make sure that the pods are aligned and facing each other, and that there is nothing that may reflect the laser beam.
-Ensure you are using both even and odd numbers, the same as shown in the app.
-Make sure the main 0 pod is charged and is a part of your workout.
-If you are performing a long-range test, ensure that the main "0" pod is placed at the center of the test for better communication.
-If there is still no connection, head to Settings --> Pods --> Main pod --> Communication Channels. Choose a different communication channel and try again, but consider that as your last resort.
How to reorder the athlete sequence in the queue?
Go to the "choose athletes to start" button under the Workout tab in Timing Gates. Here you can choose athletes by clicking the + Add to queue. Choose the athletes you wish to add and click Add athletes. Once back on the previous screen, you can drag and move the athletes up and down as you wish, customizing the order you wish to see. To remove athletes, click the small trash can icon to the right of them. To remove them all and start fresh, click the red "Clear queue" on the bottom left. You can also repeat queues as much as you would like by adjusting the number at the bottom of the athletes list.
