The dose-response validity of measures of training load in professional soccer players

Svenson, Robert Paul

Abstract

Introduction: There is currently a lack of research into the physical demands of soccer training despite it contributing towards 75-80% of weekly training load. A particular area requiring more focus is the does-response relationship between training load and changes in fitness. Purpose: This study investigated the dose-response relationship between measures of training load and changes in fitness in elite academy soccer players.

Methods: Six measures of training load (Internal: session rating of perceived exertion [sRPE], heart rate exertion; external: total distance, high-speed distance, Player LoadTM, total mean metabolic power [TMetAv]) were collected from 25 elite academy soccer players over the course of a 7-week pre-season period. A maximal YoYo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIR1) was performed prior to and following the 7-week pre-season period. The change in YYIR1 performance between weeks 1 and 8 was then correlated with the measures of training load collected during the 7-week pre-season period.

Results: Mean change in YYIR1 (delta YoYo) was 195 m (95%CI: 160 m to 230 m; Cohen's d: 0.53 (95%CI: 0.44 to 0.63). No significant correlations were found between delta YoYo and any of the mean weekly training load measures. Significant correlations were present between a number of the measures of training load across the 7-week pre-season (P < 0.01), most notably between TMetAv and sRPE (r = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.89 to 0.98), total distance (r = 0.74; 95%CI = 0.49 to 0.88) and Player LoadTM (r = 0.76; 95%CI = 0.52 to 0.89)

Conclusions: The results of this study confirm that many of the training load methods correlate with each other, in particular TMetAv with sRPE, total distance and Player LoadTM. Despite this, a dose-response relationship between changes in fitness and internal/external training-load measures was not established. Given this finding, it is suggested that the best practice for monitoring the training load of soccer players would be the use of a combination of TMetAv with total distance, sRPE and Player LoadTM in order to capture a more complete understanding of the physiological and psychological load experienced by elite soccer players.

Citation

Svenson, R. P. The dose-response validity of measures of training load in professional soccer players. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4220592

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 15, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Keywords: Sports science
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4220592
• Additional Information: Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Jun 1, 2016