An Examination of Training Load, Match Activities, and Health Problems in Norwegian Youth Elite Handball Players Over One Competitive Season

Talent development is integral to the policy and organizational practice of competitive sport, but has also been associated with excessive amounts of training and competition, and athlete injuries and illnesses. The lack of available prospective data on the training and match activities of youth athletes and their health problems is therefore of concern. The aim of this study was two-fold: (a) to examine the amount and frequency of training load, match activities, injury and illness incidence, and prevalence among Norwegian youth elite handball players over the course of the 2018–2019 competitive season; and (b) to explore whether the injury rates are related to the sex or competition level of players, or their membership of the youth international team. We recruited 205 handball players (64% female, 36% male), aged 15–18 years (17.2 years ± 0.9) from five different sport school programs in southeast Norway. Data were collected daily from September 2018 to May 2019, during the competitive handball season. The variables included types of athlete activities, the number of activities, the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and the duration of training and matches. Injury and illness data were collected weekly using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) questionnaire. The mean number of matches per week per player was 0.9 ± 1.29; the number of weekly training events was 6.1 ± 4.4; and the mean weekly session RPE was 986 ± 1 412 arbitrary units. The players reported a total of 472 injuries, and the mean number of injuries per player was 2.3 ± 2.9. The results demonstrated a 53% weekly injury prevalence, of which 38% were categorized as substantial injuries. Male players and players who participated at the highest level of senior competition and/or the youth international team reported significantly lower weekly incidences of health problems, compared to other players. Our findings showed that players enrolled in sport school programs are exposed to high training and competition loads, and that both general and substantial health problems are common. The potential implications for talent development and future research are discussed.

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Ecological Validity of the Session Rating of Perceived Exertion for Quantifying Internal Training Load in Fencing

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2016-0062 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 124-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anthony N. Turner ◽

Conor Buttigieg ◽

Geoff Marshall ◽

Angelo Noto ◽

James Phillips ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Correlation Analysis ◽

Individual Variation ◽

Coefficient Of Variation ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Exercise Duration ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Competitive Season

Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) is known to significantly relate to heart-rate (HR) -based methods of quantifying internal training load (TL) in a variety of sports. However, to date this has not been investigated in fencing and was therefore the aim of this study. TL was calculated by multiplying the sRPE with exercise duration and through HR-based methods calculated using Banister and Edwards TRIMP. Seven male elite foil fencers (mean ± SD age 22.3 ± 1.6 y, height 181.3 ± 6.5 cm, body mass 77.7 ± 7.6 kg) were monitored over the period of 1 competitive season. The sRPE and HR of 67 training sessions and 3 competitions (87 poule bouts and 12 knockout rounds) were recorded and analyzed. Correlation analysis was used to determine any relationships between sRPE- and HR-based methods, accounting for individual variation, mode of training (footwork drills vs sparring sessions), and stage of competition (poules vs knockouts). Across 2 footwork sessions, sRPE and Banister and Edwards TRIMP were found to be reliable, with coefficient of variation values of 6.0%, 5.2%, and 4.5%, respectively. Significant correlations with sRPE for individual fencers (r = .84–.98) and across mode of exercise (r = .73–.85) and competition stages (r = .82–.92) were found with HR-based measures. sRPE is a simple and valuable tool coaches can use to quantify TL in fencing.

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Internal training load and fitness profile between adult team versus junior team soccer players

Kinesiology ◽

10.26582/k.53.1.8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 71-77

Author(s):

Alireza Rabbani ◽

Del P. Wong ◽

Filipe Manuel Clemente ◽

Mehdi Kargarfard

Keyword(s):

Confidence Intervals ◽

High Intensity ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Competitive Season ◽

And Training

The aim of the present study was to compare the fitness profiles and internal training loads between senior team and academy team soccer players during an in-season phase. Twenty-two professional soccer players from the senior team (n=12; 28.3<img width="12" alt="" height="20"> 2.0 years) and under 19 (U19) team (n=10; 18.0<img width="12" alt="" height="20"> 0.4 years) of the same club participated in the present study. High-intensity running performance, acceleration, maximal sprint, and change of direction (COD) ability were all tested during the mid-season break of a competitive season. Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) reflecting the internal training load during the entire first half of the season was being documented daily. Senior players showed small to moderate superiority in COD (1.8%, 90% confidence intervals [CI, -3.2; 7.1], ES: 0.24 [-0.44; 0.92]), maximal sprint (2.3%, [0.0; 4.7], ES: 0.81 [0.00; 1.63]) and acceleration (3%, [0.2; 5.8], ES: 0.96 [0.06; 1.85]). The U19 showed small better high-intensity intermittent running fitness (2.5%, [-1.2; 6.3], ES: 0.39 [-0.20; 0.97]). When analyzing internal training loads (from M-3 to M+3), the U19 showed small to very large higher sRPE values for all days (range; 8.2%; 229.3%, [-8.1; 328.3], ES range; 0.25; 2.70, [-0.26; 3.3]), except for match days (M), on which unclear trivial difference was observed (-1.5%, [-9.6; 7.5], ES -0.09 [-0.65; 0.46]). Our results showed that senior players and youth players had different fitness profiles and internal training loads during the first half of a competitive season; this should be taken into consideration when designing specific and individualized recovery and training sessions.

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Seasonal Training Load and Wellness Monitoring in a Professional Soccer Goalkeeper

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2017-0472 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 672-675 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

James J. Malone ◽

Arne Jaspers ◽

Werner Helsen ◽

Brenda Merks ◽

Wouter G.P. Frencken ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Positioning System ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Total Distance ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Competitive Season ◽

Global Positioning ◽

The Relationship

The purpose of this investigation was to (1) quantify the training load practices of a professional soccer goalkeeper and (2) investigate the relationship between the training load observed and the subsequent self-reported wellness response. One male goalkeeper playing for a team in the top league of the Netherlands participated in this case study. Training load data were collected across a full season using a global positioning system device and session-RPE (rating of perceived exertion). Data were assessed in relation to the number of days to a match (MD− and MD+). In addition, self-reported wellness response was assessed using a questionnaire. Duration, total distance, average speed, PlayerLoad™, and load (derived from session-RPE) were highest on MD. The lowest values for duration, total distance, and PlayerLoad™ were observed on MD−1 and MD+1. Total wellness scores were highest on MD and MD−3 and were lowest on MD+1 and MD−4. Small to moderate correlations between training load measures (duration, total distance covered, high deceleration efforts, and load) and the self-reported wellness response scores were found. This exploratory case study provides novel data about the physical load undertaken by a goalkeeper during 1 competitive season. The data suggest that there are small to moderate relationships between training load indicators and self-reported wellness response. This weak relation indicates that the association is not meaningful. This may be due to the lack of position-specific training load parameters that practitioners can currently measure in the applied context.

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The Impact of Chronotype on the Sleep and Training Responses of Elite Female Australian Footballers

Clocks & Sleep ◽

10.3390/clockssleep3040037 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 528-535

Author(s):

Michele Lastella ◽

Dean J. Miller ◽

Manuella Quilelli ◽

Spencer Roberts ◽

Brad Aisbett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Exertion ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Self Report ◽

Future Research ◽

Training Time ◽

Time In Bed ◽

Circadian Preference ◽

The Impact ◽

And Training

The primary aims of the present study were to examine the impact of chronotype on sleep/wake behaviour, perceived exertion, and training load among professional footballers. Thirty-six elite female professional football player’s (mean ± SD: age, 25 ± 4 y; weight, 68 ± 7 kg) sleep and training behaviours were examined for 10 consecutive nights during a pre-season period using a self-report online player-management system and wrist activity monitors. All athletes completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) on the first day of data collection. Eleven participants were morning types, seventeen participants were intermediate types, and three participants were evening types. Separate linear mixed models were conducted to assess differences in sleep, perceived exertion, and training behaviours between chronotype groups. Morning types woke up earlier (wake time: 07:19 ± 01:16 vs. 07:53 ± 01:01, p = 0.04) and reported higher ratings of perceived exertion compared to intermediate types (6.7 ± 1.1 vs. 5.9 ± 1.2, p = 0.01). No differences were observed between chronotype groups for bedtime, time in bed, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, training duration, or training load. In circumstances where professional female football players are required to train at a time opposing their natural circadian preference (e.g., morning type training in the evening), their perceived exertion during training may be higher than that of players that are training at a time that aligns with their natural circadian preference (e.g., evening type training in the evening). It is important for practitioners to monitor individual trends in training variables (e.g., rating of perceived exertion, training load) with relation to athlete chronotype and training time. Future research should examine the relationship between chronotype, training time, and rating of perceived exertion across different training durations.

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Quantifying Sub-Elite Youth Football Weekly Training Load and Recovery Variation

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11114871 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 4871

Author(s):

José E. Teixeira ◽

Pedro Forte ◽

Ricardo Ferraz ◽

Miguel Leal ◽

Joana Ribeiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Exertion ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Future Research ◽

Total Quality ◽

Youth Football ◽

Age Related ◽

Weekly Training ◽

External Training ◽

Recovery Status

Monitoring the training load in football is an important strategy to improve athletic performance and an effective training periodization. The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to quantify the weekly training load and recovery status variations performed by under-15, under-17 and under-19 sub-elite young football players; and (2) to analyze the influence of age, training day, weekly microcycle, training and playing position on the training load and recovery status. Twenty under-15, twenty under-17 and twenty under-19 players were monitored over a 2-week period during the first month of the 2019–2020 competitive season. Global positioning system technology (GPS) was used to collect external training loads: total distance covered, average speed, maximal running speed, relative high-speed running distance, high metabolic load distance, sprinting distance, dynamic stress load, accelerations and decelerations. Internal training load was monitored using ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). Recovery status was obtained using the total quality recovery (TQR) scale. The results show an age-related influence for external training load (p ≤ 0.001; d = 0.29–0.86; moderate to strong effect), internal training load (p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.12–0.69; minimum to strong effect) and recovery status (p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.59; strong effect). The external training load presented differences between training days (p < 0.05, d = 0.26–0.95; moderate to strong effect). The playing position had a minimum effect on the weekly training load (p < 0.05; d = 0.06–0.18). The weekly microcycle had a moderate effect in the TD (p < 0.05, d = 0.39), RPE (p < 0.05; d = 0.35) and sRPE (p < 0.05, d = 0.35). Interaction effects were found between the four factors analyzed for deceleration (F = 2.819, p = 0.017) and between inter-day, inter-week and age for total covered distance (F = 8.342, p = 0.008). This study provided specific insights about sub-elite youth football training load and recovery status to monitor training environments and load variations. Future research should include a longer monitoring period to assess training load and recovery variations across different season phases.

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Internal and External Training Load in Under-19 versus Professional Soccer Players during the In-Season Period

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020558 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 558

Author(s):

Sullivan Coppalle ◽

Guillaume Ravé ◽

Jason Moran ◽

Iyed Salhi ◽

Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Exertion ◽

Training Session ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Global Positioning ◽

External Training ◽

Soccer Team

This study aimed to compare the training load of a professional under-19 soccer team (U-19) to that of an elite adult team (EAT), from the same club, during the in-season period. Thirty-nine healthy soccer players were involved (EAT [n = 20]; U-19 [n = 19]) in the study which spanned four weeks. Training load (TL) was monitored as external TL, using a global positioning system (GPS), and internal TL, using a rating of perceived exertion (RPE). TL data were recorded after each training session. During soccer matches, players’ RPEs were recorded. The internal TL was quantified daily by means of the session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) using Borg’s 0–10 scale. For GPS data, the selected running speed intensities (over 0.5 s time intervals) were 12–15.9 km/h; 16–19.9 km/h; 20–24.9 km/h; >25 km/h (sprint). Distances covered between 16 and 19.9 km/h, > 20 km/h and >25 km/h were significantly higher in U-19 compared to EAT over the course of the study (p =0.023, d = 0.243, small; p = 0.016, d = 0.298, small; and p = 0.001, d = 0.564, small, respectively). EAT players performed significantly fewer sprints per week compared to U-19 players (p = 0.002, d = 0.526, small). RPE was significantly higher in U-19 compared to EAT (p =0.001, d = 0.188, trivial). The external and internal measures of TL were significantly higher in the U-19 group compared to the EAT soccer players. In conclusion, the results obtained show that the training load is greater in U19 compared to EAT.

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Physiological Demands of Basic Fire Management Tasks in Members of the Canadian Armed Forces: A Pilot Study

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usab421 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Étienne Chassé ◽

Daniel Théoret ◽

Martin P Poirier ◽

François Lalonde

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Fire Management ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Minimum Standard ◽

Canadian Armed Forces ◽

The Mean ◽

Physiological Demands ◽

Task Simulation

ABSTRACT Introduction Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are required to meet the minimum standards of the Fitness for Operational Requirements of CAF Employment (FORCE) job-based simulation test (JBST) and must possess the capacity to perform other common essential tasks. One of those tasks is to perform basic fire management tasks during fire emergencies to mitigate damage and reduce the risk of injuries and/or death until professional firefighters arrive at the scene. To date however, the physiological demands of common firefighting tasks have mostly been performed on professional firefighters, thus rendering the transferability of the demands to the general military population unclear. This pilot study aimed to quantify, for the first time, the physiological demands of basic fire management tasks in the military, to determine if they are reflected in the FORCE JBST minimum standard. We hypothesized that the physiological demands of basic fire management tasks within the CAF are below the physiological demands of the FORCE JBST minimum standard, and as such, be lower than the demands of professional firefighting. Materials and methods To achieve this, 21 CAF members (8 females; 13 males; mean [SD] age: 33 [10] years; height: 174.5 [10.5] cm; weight: 85.4 [22.1] kg, estimated maximal oxygen uptake [$\dot V$O2peak]: 44.4 (7.4) mL kg−1 min−1) participated in a realistic, but physically demanding, JBST developed by CAF professional firefighting subject matter experts. The actions included lifting, carrying, and manipulating a 13-kg powder fire extinguisher and connecting, coupling, and dragging a 38-mm fire hose over 30 m. The rate of oxygen uptake ($\dot V$O2), heart rate, and percentage of heart rate reserve were measured continuously during two task simulation trials, which were interspersed by a recovery period. Rating of perceived exertion (6-no exertion; 20-maximal exertion) was measured upon completion of both task simulations. Peak $\dot V$O2 ($\dot V$O2peak) was estimated based on the results of the FORCE JBST. Results The mean (SD) duration of both task simulation trials was 3:39 (0:19) min:s, whereas the rest period in between both trials was 62 (19) minutes. The mean O2 was 21.1 (4.7) mL kg−1 min−1 across trials, which represented 52.1 (12.2) %$\dot V$O2peak and ∼81% of the FORCE JBST. This was paralleled by a mean heart rate of 136 (18) beats min−1, mean percentage of heart rate reserve of 61.2 (10.8), and mean rating of perceived exertion of 11 ± 2. Other physical components of the JBST consisted of lifting, carrying, and manipulating a 13-kg load for ∼59 seconds, which represents 65% of the load of the FORCE JBST. The external resistance of the fire hose drag portion increased up to 316 N, translating to a total of 6205 N over 30 m, which represents 96% of the drag force measured during the FORCE JBST. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the physiological demands of basic fire management tasks in the CAF are of moderate intensity, which are reflected in the CAF physical fitness standard. As such, CAF members who achieve the minimum standard on the FORCE JBST are deemed capable of physically performing basic fire management tasks during fire emergencies.

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Internal Training Load Affects Day-After-Pretraining Perceived Fatigue in Female Volleyball Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2020-0829 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu ◽

Corrado Lupo ◽

Gennaro Boccia ◽

Paolo Riccardo Brustio

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Muscle Soreness ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Well Being ◽

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Mixed Effect ◽

Delayed Onset ◽

Volleyball Players

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether the internal (session rating of perceived exertion [sRPE] and Edwards heart-rate-based method) and external training load (jumps) affect the presession well-being perception on the day after (ie, +22 h), according to age and tactical position, in elite (ie, Serie A2) female volleyball training. Methods: Ten female elite volleyball players (age = 23 [4] y, height = 1.82 [0.04] m, body mass = 73.2 [4.9] kg) had their heart rate monitored during 13 team (115 individual) training sessions (duration: 101 [8] min). Mixed-effect models were applied to evaluate whether sRPE, Edwards method, and jumps were correlated (P ≤ .05) to Hooper index factors (ie, perceived sleep quality/disorders, stress level, fatigue, and delayed-onset muscle soreness) in relation to age and tactical position (ie, hitters, central blockers, opposites, and setters). Results: The results showed a direct relationship between sRPE (P < .001) and presession well-being perception 22 hours apart, whereas the relationship was the inverse for Edwards method internal training load. Age, as well as the performed jumps, did not affect the well-being perception of the day after. Finally, central blockers experienced a higher delayed-onset muscle soreness than hitters (P = .003). Conclusions: Findings indicated that female volleyball players’ internal training load influences the pretraining well-being status on the day after (+ 22 h). Therefore, coaches can benefit from this information to accurately implement periodization in a short-term perspective and to properly adopt recovery strategies in relation to the players’ well-being status.

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Carbohydrate Drink Use During 30 Minutes of Variable-Intensity Exercise Has No Effect on Exercise Performance in Premenarchal Girls

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.2020-0050 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 65-69

Author(s):

C. Eric Heidorn ◽

Brandon J. Dykstra ◽

Cori A. Conner ◽

Anthony D. Mahon

Keyword(s):

Peak Power ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Fatigue Index ◽

Mean Power ◽

Variable Intensity ◽

Performance Effects ◽

Power Peak ◽

The Mean ◽

And Performance

Purpose: This study examined the physiological, perceptual, and performance effects of a 6% carbohydrate (CHO) drink during variable-intensity exercise (VIE) and a postexercise test in premenarchal girls. Methods: A total of 10 girls (10.4 [0.7] y) participated in the study. VO2peak was assessed, and the girls were familiarized with VIE and performance during the first visit. The trial order (CHO and placebo) was randomly assigned for subsequent visits. The drinks were given before VIE bouts and 1-minute performance (9 mL/kg total). Two 15-minute bouts of VIE were completed (10 repeated sequences of 20%, 55%, and 95% power at VO2peak and maximal sprints) before a 1-minute performance sprint. Results: The mean power, peak power, heart rate (HR), %HRpeak, and rating of perceived exertion during VIE did not differ between trials. However, the peak power decreased, and the rating of perceived exertion increased from the first to the second bout. During the 1-minute performance, there were no differences between the trial (CHO vs placebo) for HR (190 [9] vs 189 [9] bpm), %HRpeak (97.0% [3.2%] vs 96.6% [3.0%]), rating of perceived exertion (7.8 [2.3] vs 8.1 [1.9]), peak power (238 [70] vs 235 [60] W), fatigue index (54.7% [10.0%] vs 55.9% [12.8%]), or total work (9.4 [2.6] vs 9.4 [2.1] kJ). Conclusion: CHO supplementation did not alter physiological, perceptual, or performance responses during 30 minutes of VIE or postexercise sprint performance in premenarchal girls.

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Within-Subject Correlation Between Salivary IgA and Measures of Training Load in Elite Football Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2018-0455 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 847-849 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pedro Figueiredo ◽

George P. Nassis ◽

João Brito

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Immunoglobulin A ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Training Load ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Football Players ◽

Positioning Systems ◽

External Training ◽

Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A

Purpose: To quantify the association between salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and training load in elite football players. Methods: Data were obtained on 4 consecutive days during the preparation camp for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Saliva samples of 18 elite male football players were collected prior to breakfast. The session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) and external training-load metrics from global positioning systems (GPS) were recorded. Within-subject correlation coefficients between training load and sIgA concentration, and magnitude of relationships, were calculated. Results: sIgA presented moderate to large negative correlations with s-RPE (r = −.39), total distance covered (r = −.55), accelerations (r = −.52), and decelerations (r = −.48). Trivial to small associations were detected between sIgA and distance covered per minute (r = .01), high-speed distance (r = −.23), and number of sprints (r = −.18). sIgA displayed a likely moderate decrease from day 1 to day 2 (d = −0.7) but increased on day 3 (d = 0.6). The training-load variables had moderate to very large rises from day 1 to day 2 (d = 0.7 to 3.2) but lowered from day 2 to day 3 (d = −5.0 to −0.4), except for distance per minute (d = 0.8) and sprints (unclear). On day 3, all training-load variables had small to large increments compared with day 1 (d = 0.4 to 1.5), except for accelerations (d = −0.8) and decelerations (unclear). Conclusions: In elite football, sIgA might be more responsive to training volume than to intensity. External load such as GPS-derived variables presented stronger association with sIgA than with s-RPE. sIgA can be used as an additional objective tool in monitoring football players.

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