Determinant Factors of the Match-Based Internal Load in Elite Soccer Players.

Purpose: To analyze the contribution of physical measures and external load in the match-based internal load of elite soccer players. Methods: Twenty-three elite soccer players (n = 23, age 26.69 ± 3.93 years, body mass 78.04 ± 5.03 kg, height 178.04 ± 5.19 cm, body fat 10.98 ± 1.25%) from a first division soccer team of the Brazilian Championship were evaluated first with anthropometric and physical measures (flexibility and muscle power of lower limbs), and after 24 hrs they were asked to perform an incremental treadmill test (VO2max and ventilatory thresholds). Subsequently, athletes were monitored for 6 weeks during nine official matches of a regional championship. On match days, the external load data (e.g., player load) were collected by triaxial accelerometers with GPS systems and post 30 min after the end of the match the internal load was assessed with the Session Rating of Perceived Exertion method (Session-RPE). Results: Our main findings showed significant contributions of the Player Load (r = .62, p < .001; 42.3%) and Anaerobic Threshold (r = - .199, p = .05, 17%) for the predictive model of Session-RPE. Conclusions: Physical measures and external load have a significant influence on the internal load in elite soccer players. Our findings suggest that sport scientists can use the Session-RPE as a low-cost method for prescribing and monitoring training loads, by the influence of physical measures and external load on the match-based internal load, in order to optimize athletes' performance.

Pre-planned Vs. Executed Real-Time Pacing Strategies during 3-km Race: Role of Rating Perceived Exertion.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to verify the agreement between preplanned and executed pacing during a 3-km race and determine whether adjustments are mediated by the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Method: Thirteen young runners (eight males and five females, 17.5 ± 2.1 and 17.0 ± 1.6 years old, respectively) with national and international experience participated in the study. Before the simulated competition, the athletes informed of their preplanned pacing for the distance through a dashboard with the most common pacing profiles and were also asked to complete a questionnaire communicating their preplanned RPE for each lap of race. During 3-km, heart rate (HR), executed RPE and lap time were recorded. Results: Our results showed no significant association between preplanned and executed pacing (p = .631). Moreover, no significant difference between preplanned and executed RPE was found, including the analysis by laps and phases. RPE and HR increased over time during the race (p < .001). Conclusions: The athletes changed from their preplanned pacing, however, their RPE were similar in the preplanned and executed during the 3-km race. These findings indicate that the RPE could be responsible for adjustments in the pacing strategy.

Estimation of minute ventilation by heart rate for field exercise studies.

The aim of this study was to develop predictive equations for minute ventilation based on heart rate, and to test the precision of the equations in two forms of endurance exercise. Eighteen men (age 27.8 ± 5.4 years old, maximal oxygen uptake 45.4 ± 8.3 ml·kg-1·min-1) performed a maximal progressive cycle test in which minute ventilation and heart rate were continually measured and further used to establish the proposed equations with quadratic and exponential adjustments. In the second and third laboratory visits, sixteen participants completed two cycling bouts, one high-intensity interval exercise and one low-intensity continuous exercise. The minute ventilation and heart rate were measured in both exercises and the validity of the equations tested. The Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement between the minute ventilation and estimated equations for interval and continuous exercise. There was no difference between the minute ventilation obtained from both equations and the minute ventilation directly measured during the interval exercise. However, the quadratic equation underestimated the minute ventilation during continuous exercise (p < 0.05). While both equations seem to be suitable to estimate minute ventilation during high-intensity interval exercise, the exponential equation is recommended for low-intensity continuous exercise.

Technical and Tactical Training Load in Professional Volleyball Players.

PURPOSE: To analyze the technical and tactical training load in professional volleyball players, using subjective internal training load (session rating of perceived exertion  [SRPE]) and objective internal training load (training impulse of the heart rate [HR]) and the relationship between them. METHODS: The sample was composed of 15 male professional volleyball players. They were monitored during 37 training sessions that included both technical (n = 23) and tactical (n = 14) training. Technical and training load was calculated using SRPE and training impulse of the HR. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between the methods in tactical (r = .616) and technical training (r = -.414). Furthermore, it was noted that technical training occurs up to 80% of HRmax (zone 3) and tactical training between 70% and 90% of HRmax (zones 3-4). CONCLUSIONS: The training impulse of the HR method has proved to be effective for training-load control during tactical training. However, it was limited compared with technical training. Thus, the use of SRPE is presented as a more reliable method in the different types of technical training in volleyball.

Do biological maturity and performance influence the training load of track and field athletes? / A maturação sexual e o desempenho influenciam a carga de treinamento de atletas de atletismo?

Abstract It is necessary to clarify if BM and track and field performance can modulate the perception about RPE-session. The purpose of the present study was to verify if biological maturity and track and field-specific performance can be associated with training load (RPE-session method). Seventy-five young athletes (13-15 years old) of both genders participated in the present study. The experimental protocol lasted seven consecutive days. Performance tests (75-m running, long jump, 250-m running, shot put and 1000-m running) were made on the first day. After 48 hours, five days of track and field training it was prescribed, each day represents a training of each performance test. All training sessions had the same duration (120 min). The value of the training load was obtained multiplying the RPE value with training session duration (in minutes). For girls, the training load of 250-m training was correlated with biological maturity (r = -0.36, p = 0.02, n = 37) and specific performance (r = 0.33, p = 0.04, n = 37). All other analyzes indicate that biological maturity and track and field-specific performance do not influence the training load based on RPE-session method. Training load based on RPE-session is not influenced by biological maturity and track and field-specific performance, therefore can be used to control the training load of young track and field athletes. To girls it is necessary a care to control the training sessions intensity of 250-m running.

Resumo É necessário esclarecer se a maturação biológica e o desempenho no atletismo podem modular a PSE da sessão. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se a maturidade biológica e o desempenho específico no atletismo podem estar associados à carga de treinamento (método de PSE da sessão). Setenta e cinco jovens atletas (13-15 anos) de ambos os sexos participaram do presente estudo. O protocolo experimental durou sete dias consecutivos. Testes de desempenho (75 m de corrida, salto em distância, 250 m de corrida, arremesso de peso e 1000 m de corrida) foram feitos no primeiro dia. Após 48 horas, cinco dias de treinamento de atletismo foram prescritos, cada dia representa um treinamento de cada teste de desempenho. Todas as sessões de treinamento tiveram a mesma duração (120 min). O valor da carga de treinamento foi obtido multiplicando o valor do PSE com a duração da sessão de treinamento (em minutos). Para as meninas, a carga de treinamento de 250 m foi correlacionada com a maturidade biológica (r = -0,36, p = 0,02, n = 37) e desempenho específico (r = 0,33, p = 0,04, n = 37). Todas as outras análises indicam que a maturidade biológica e o desempenho específico no atletismo não influenciam a carga de treinamento com base no método da PSE da sessão. A carga de treinamento com base na PSE da sessão não é influenciada pela maturidade biológica e desempenho específico no atletismo, portanto, pode ser usada para controlar a carga de treinamento de jovens atletas de atletismo. Para as meninas é necessário cuidado para controlar a intensidade das sessões de treino de 250m de corrida.

Factors determining 800-m running performance in young male athletes.

BACKGROUNDː The aim of the present study was to identify determinant variables on 800-m running performance in young male athletes derived from field tests and biological maturity. METHODSː A total of 89 athletes, aged between 13 and 15 years old, performed a 800-m running trial and a battery of tests which involved anthropometric measurements, a running anaerobic test (RAST), a flexibility test (sit-and-reach), a counter movement jump test and progressive test for aerobic fitness evaluation. A stepwise multiple regression model selected three independent variables to explain the variance in 800-m running performance trial: peak of aerobic speed (PAS), total time of all sprints (RAST) and predicted mature stature (PMS). RESULTSː The PAS speed explained 73.6% (P<0.01) of the variance, whereas the RAST and PMS accounted for additional 7.7% (P<0.01) and 0.9% (P<0.05), respectively. Taken together, these variables explained 82.2% of the overall 800-m running performance. CONCLUSIONSː The results indicate that the 800-m running performance might be explained mainly by aerobic (PAS) and anaerobic metabolisms (RAST). Beyond the traditional variables of performance in 800-m running trial, the biological maturity must be considered in regard of endurance performance of young athletes.

Comparisons of recovery, external and internal load by playing position and match outcome in professional soccer

AIMS: To compare the internal and external load and the recovery by playing position and the match outcome (wins, losses or draws) in professional soccer. METHODS: 23 male professional soccer athletes from a team of the first division of the Brazilian Championship took part into the study (age 26.1 ± 3.8 years old, weight 77.5 ± 5.0 kg, height 177.6 ± 5.1 cm). During the games, athletes were monitored by GPS and the variables of external loads were taken. Additionally, the session rating of perceived exertion (session RPE) and the perceived recovery scale (PRS) were collected 30 minutes and 40h after the end of the matches, respectively. RESULTS: The external load was greater on full-backs and defense midfielders (p<0.05). The full-backs cover higher total distances compared to attackers, and, compared to all the others positions, they have more stimuli > 20 km/h, covering higher distances >20 km/h; these stimuli makes them to perceive less recovered than defenders, defense and attack midfielders (p<0.05). Moreover, the defenders are those who cover lower distances by the minute and the defense midfielders are those who present the lower Peak Velocity (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between GPS variables, internal load and recovery. In addition, it was found a correlation between the external and the internal load (r=0.66; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The GPS variables and the perceived recovery are influenced by the playing position, but not by the match outcome.(AU)

Monitoring the training intensity and recovery with a psychometrics approach: a gender comparison with young athletes

AIMS: The purpose of present study was verify if the RPE-training session differs between females and males during the track and field training and if biological maturity (BM) has interference on this response. METHODS: Seventy-five athletes (13-15 years old) have participated of study, with 38 male 37 female. Five training sessions of track and field were prescribe and monitoring by RPE-training session (intensity) and Total Quality Recovery (TQR) (recovery). RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between males and females on 75-meters run, long jump and shot put. Otherwise, for training of 250 and 1000-meters females related higher RPE-values than males 3.68 ± 0.79, 3.26 ± 0.56, p < 0.01 and 4.14 ± 0.94, 3.72 ± 0.89, p < 0.05; respectively. Even when controlling the effect of biological maturity the same results were observed to 250-meters F1,73 = 2.060; p = 0.002 and 1000-meters F1,73 = 0.997; p = 0.036. There was no difference for TQR between genders. CONCLUSION: The comparison the RPE-training session of females and males indicated there were difference to 250 and 1000-m training sessions, females have more RPE-training sessions than males. Additionally, there were no differences between genders for recovery parameters, even controlling BM.(AU)