Polar’s Sports Partners
Polar’s agreement with the PGMO to supply all Premier League referees with heart rate monitors for training and match use formalises the already widespread use of Polar by Premier League ref’s – and indeed Premier League players.
And today, referees training schedules and levels of fitness often match those of the players – and monitoring their hearts’ performance is an equally crucial part of their fitness programme.
Polar’s partnership with the PGMO ensures that all referees have access to state of the art Polar products and aftersales care. Polar are able to offer a trade rate to PGMO referees which equates to a 40% reduction off the recommended retail price.
Over the last four years Polar have attended the annual referees conference at Staverton Park to provide product advice and support on how to get the best from your heart rate monitor as well as assist with on site servicing of referees heart rate monitors.
Polar has also created exclusive Partnerships with a number of high profile sporting teams and Sports Associations including:
League Managers Association (LMA)
Nearly all premier league football Clubs use Polar heart rate monitors in their training and as a core tool for monitoring fitness as well as the majority of Championship & Football League clubs. All Football Managers & coaches who are members of the LMA have received an RS400 to raise the importance of heart rate monitoring in maintaining player fitness.
As well as using individual heart rate monitors teams also use the Polar Team System which allows heart rate to be monitored without any interference from the player. Coaches can build a record of each player’s condition, their overall performance and create reports that compare the whole team or an individuals training session. This in turn is motivational for the players as they can easily see their fitness improving.
UK Athletics
Polar have been supporting the GB team by providing our top line RS800 Running Computers in their preparations for Beijing this summer. UKA have been using the RS800 to monitor fitness levels and recovery amongst its endurance athletes to ensure the team are at the peak of performance ready for the Olympic Games.
The RS800sd (speed and distance) is also being used as part of ongoing physiology research with the elite athletes to prepare for London 2012.
England Hockey
The Polar Team System is used extensively by the men’s and women’s national hockey teams. The team have also been using Polar heart rate monitors in their preparations for the 2008 Olympics to monitor team fitness. The women’s team also used the RS800 at the Champions Challenge in 2007 to record heart rate variability and recovery with great success.
Scottish Referees
The elite ‘Premiership’ referees all use the RS400 during matches and training to record fitness levels. Matt Weston, PGMO Sports Scientist provided full training and set-up in 2007. The feedback has been positive with referees welcoming the wide range of feedback provided by the RS400 and its Pro trainer 5 software tools.
Rugby League Match Officials
Like the PGMO the seven full-time Match Officials all use the RS400 in training and during matches. This has ensured the Match Officials are at the peak of fitness and training can easily be tailored to the individuals needs.
The RS800g3 GPS unit has also been trailed to understand how speed and distance measurements can be used in developing training programmes.
First Division Rugby
Installed as the official supplier of heart rate monitors to all of the clubs in National League One, the relationship sees Polar supporting the elite squads coaching teams with the provision of their innovative sports monitoring equipment and services.
All Directors of Rugby have received an RS400, which is used extensively with their teams.
adidas
Polar in conjunction with Adidas developed the RS800 Integrated Running System in 2006. With Polar’s digital RS800 running computer comprising wrist unit and transmitter belt built into Adidas apparel. As well as the S3 speed and distance stride sensor which sat comfortably within Adistar trainers. This was the ultimate training tool for running and endurance and won the iF International Forum Design in China, was named as the “Running Accessory of the Year” by Runner’s World Magazine and awarded ‘Best of Gear’ from National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
