The aim of this study was to examine the training load (TL) profile of professional elite level basketball players during the crucial parts of the competitive season (pre-play-off finals). Subjects were 8 full-time professional basketball players (age 28 +/- 3.6 years, height 199 +/-7.2 cm, body mass 102 +/- 11.5 kg, and body fat 10.4 +/- 1.5%) whose heart rate (HR) was recorded during each training session and their individual response to TL monitored using the session-rate of perceived exertion (RPE) method (200 training sessions). The association between the session-RPE method and training HR was used to assess the population validity of the session-RPE method. Significant relationships were observed between individual session-RPE and all individual HR-based TL (r values from 0.69 to 0.85; p < 0.001). Coaches spontaneously provided a tapering phase during the competitive weeks irrespective of the number of games played during it (i.e., 1 or 2 games). The individual weekly players' TL resulted in being not significantly different from each other (p > 0.05). Elite male professional basketball imposes great physiological and psychological stress on players through training sessions and official competitions (1-2 per week). Consequently, the importance of a practical and valid method to assess individual TL is warranted. In this research, we demonstrated that session-RPE may be considered as a viable method to asses TL without the use of more sophisticated tools (i.e., HR monitors). The session-RPE method enabled the detection of periodization patterns in weekly planning in elite professional basketball during the crucial part of the competitive season (1 vs. 2 weekly fixtures model).

In athletes, exercise training induces autonomic nervous system (ANS) adaptations that could be used to monitor training status. However, the relationship between training and ANS in athletes has been investigated without regard for individual training loads. We tested the hypothesis that in long-distance athletes, changes in ANS parameters are dose-response related to individual volume/intensity training load and could predict athletic performance. A spectral analysis of heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure variability, and baroreflex sensitivity by the sequences technique was investigated in eight recreational athletes during a 6-mo training period culminating with a marathon. Individualized training load responses were monitored by a modified training impulse (TRIMP(i)) method, which was determined in each athlete using the individual HR and lactate profiling determined during a treadmill test. Monthly TRIMP(i) steadily increased during the training period. All the ANS parameters were significantly and very highly correlated to the dose of exercise with a second-order regression model (r(2) ranged from 0.90 to 0.99; P < 0.001). Variance, high-frequency oscillations of HR variability (HRV), and baroreflex sensitivity resembled a bell-shaped curve with a minimum at the highest TRIMP(i), whereas low-frequency oscillations of HR and systolic arterial pressure variability and the low frequency (LF)-to-high frequency ratio resembled an U-shaped curve with a maximum at the highest TRIMP(i). The LF component of HRV assessed at the last recording session was significantly and inversely correlated to the time needed to complete the nearing marathon. These results suggest that in recreational athletes, ANS adaptations to exercise training are dose related on an individual basis, showing a progressive shift toward a sympathetic predominance, and that LF oscillations in HRV at peak training load could predict athletic achievement in this athlete population.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between popular endurance field tests and physical match performance in elite male youth soccer players. Eighteen male young soccer players (age 14.4±0.1 years, height 1.67±4.8 cm, body mass 53.6±1.8 kg) were randomly chosen among a population of elite-level soccer players. Players were observed during international championship games of the corresponding age categories and randomly However the Hoff test was only significantly related with sprint distance (r=0.70, p=0.04).The Yo-Yo IR1 showed very large association with MSFT performance (r=0.89, p<0.0001). This study's results showed that Yo-Yo IR1 and MSFT test may be regarded as valuable tests to assess match fitness and subsequently guide training prescription in youth soccer players.The very large relationship between Yo-Yo IR1 and MSFT suggests their use according to 3 the period of the season and the aerobic-fitness level of the players. Due to the association of the Yo-Yo IR1 and MSFT with match physical performances these tests should be considered in talent selection and development.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the concurrent validity of 2 portable systems for vertical jump (VJ) assessment under field conditions. The VJ flight times assessed using an optical mat (Optojump) and an accelerometer-based (Myotest) system were compared with that of a force platform. The flight times recorded during a countermovement jump (CMJ) were collected from 20 rugby players (n = 86 jumps) concurrently using the 3 tracking systems. Significant bias between the Force platform and either the Optojump (bias = 0.006 ± 0.007; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.004-0.007 seconds) and Myotest (bias = -0.031 ± 0.021; 95% CI 0.035 to -0.026s; p < 0.0001) occurred. A nearly perfect correlation was found between force platform and Optojump (r = 0.99; 95% CI 0.098-0.99; p < 0.0001). Force platform and Myotest (r = 0.89; 95% CI 0.084-0.93; p < 0.0001) flight times showed very large association. Difference between Optojump and Myotest systems was significant (-0.036 ± 0.021 seconds; 95% CI -0.041 to -0.032; p < 0.0001), which results in Myotest mean flight time being approximately 7.2% longer than the Optojump flight time. The association between Optojump and Myotest was nearly perfect (r = 0.91, 95% CI 0.86-0.94; p < 0.0001). This study showed that the Optojump and Myotest systems possess convergent validity and can be successfully used under field conditions to assess VJ while performing a CMJ. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting data obtained from different portable systems for field measurement.

In this study, we examined the components of 2 change-of-direction (COD) ability (CODA) tests in elite-level male soccer players (n = 23, age 19 ± 1 years, height 181 ± 5.7 cm, body mass 73.2 ± 4.1 kg, % body fat 11 ± 2.4). As CODA paradigms, the T-test and 5-m shuttle run-sprint (5mSS) test assumed as describing the opposing ends of the COD complexity in soccer (i.e., general and specific tests, respectively) were considered. Results showed that the anthropometric and muscular performance variables were able to account for ~45% (p < 0.04) of the common variance of CODA. The T-test performance was explained by 8 variables (adjusted R2 = 0.45, p = 0.026), with 5mSS, height, knee extensors isokinetic concentric strength at 60°·per second, and right-to-left knee extensors eccentric strength deficit reaching a level of significance in the provided model (p ≤ 0.02). The best-fitting equation for 5mSS performance included 10 variables (adjusted R2 = 0.48, p = 0.036) of which T-test performance, height, percentage of body fat, and peak power during the countermovement jump resulted significantly affecting the common shared variance (p ≤ 0.03). This study finding showed that the affecting variables of CODA differ according to the test characteristics. Furthermore, the magnitude of the reported associations suggests that currently CODA should be regarded mainly as a task-specific fitness attribute. Further studies are warranted to detect more relevant performance variables to describe CODA. Meanwhile, soccer coaches and fitness trainers are advised to improve players' CODA using training drills that mimic crucial match actions.

Individualized TRIMP is a valid tool in tracking fitness (speed at 2 and 4 mmol x L(-1)) and performance (i.e., 5000- and 10,000-m races) in LDR and is more valuable than the methods on the basis of average-based group values. TRIMPi could predict race performance in LDR.

The main aim of this study was to assess the physiological responses of male basketball players during usual basketball ball-drills. Fourteen male basketball players (age 18.9 ± 2.3 years) performed the following full-court (28 × 15 m) basketball ball-drills (3 × 4-min with 3-min passive rest): five-a-side (5v5), three-a-side (3v3) and two-a-side (2v2). A main effect (P < 0.0001) for ball-drills modes was evident for all variables (5v5 < 3v3 < 2v2). Mean [Vdot]O(2) during the 5v5, 3v3 and 2v2 were 39.0 ± 7.2, 42.0 ± 7.5 and 45.0 ± 6.5 ml · kg(-1) · min(-1) (69 ± 11, 74 ± 12 and 79 ± 11% of [Vdot]O(2peak)) respectively (5v5 = 3v3 < 2v2, P < 0.001). Mean blood-lactate concentrations for 5v5, 3v3 and 2v2 were 4.2 ± 1.8, 6.2 ± 2.3 and 7.8 ± 1.2 mmol (l(-1) respectively (5v5 < 3v3 < 2v2, P < 0.01). During the 5v5, 3v3 and 2v2 mean heart-rate (HR) was 84.0 ± 9.2, 88.0 ± 8.4 and 92.0 ± 5.6% of the individual peak respectively (5v5 < 3v3 < 2v2; P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the regression-line slope (P = 0.86) and intercept (P = 0.45) of the HR-[Vdot]O(2) relationships of the multistage maximal fitness test (r(2) from 0.80 to 0.96, P < 0.001) and ball-drills (r(2) from 0.70 to 0.95, P < 0.001) conditions. Reducing the number of players over the same playing court resulted in increments in physiological demands. The 2v2 condition provided responses in the range of those reported to improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness. The aerobic demands of ball-drills can be accurately assessed using heart-rate monitoring in basketball.