Ecological validity of self-reported wellness measures to assess pre-training and pre-competition preparedness within elite Gaelic football

Abstract

The current investigation aimed to examine the ecological validity of self-reported wellness questionnaires, and specifically 'Readiness to Train' (RTT) as an indicator of pre-training and pre-competition preparedness within elite Gaelic football players. Thirty-seven (n = 37) elite male Gaelic football players (age 26 ± 4; height 181 ± 15 cm, weight 86 ± 4 kg) were recruited for the current study which took place during the 2017 competition season. Participants were monitored using global positioning system technology (GPS; 10-Hz; STATSports Viper Pod; STATSports; Newry, UK) and a self-reported questionnaire (Metrifit, Health, and Sport technologies, Ireland) to provide measures of internal load (RPE; sRPE) external load (GPS variables) and wellness questionnaire (Likert scale: 1-5 response) response to training loads. Results showed that irrespective of the model that the percentage RTT prior to training or match-play was not associated with and running performance measures. Activity type (p ≤ 0.0001), muscle soreness (p ≤ 0.0001), sleep quality (p ≤ 0.0001), and sleep duration (p ≤ 0.0001) all effected subsequent running performance during training and match-play. Furthermore, post hoc analysis showed that specific GPS variables and accumulated training load across specific time durations impacted RPE and total internal training load. Our results indicate that RTT is a poor measure of pre-training and competition preparedness, with individual sub-scales of wellness more appropriate to measure preparedness within Gaelic football players. Practitioners should pay close attention to fluctuations in sleep quality, sleep duration, and muscle soreness when planning training loads. Also, accumulated training loads impact players running capacity and perception of RPE highlighting the importance of longitudinally planning within the Gaelic football training process.

Case Study: Transition to a Vegan Diet in an Elite Male Gaelic Football Player

“…The athlete wore a global positioning system (GPS)-tracking unit (STATSports Apex, Firmware: 3.0.10091, Newry, Northern Ireland) sampling at 10-Hz and containing a 400 Hz accelerometer and 10-Hz magnetometer in a total of 20 matches across the 2018 ( n = 10; OD) and 2019 ( n = 10; VD) intercounty Gaelic football seasons ( Figure 2 ). Details of the GPS technology use and data analysis have been previously described [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. No significant differences were observed when comparing the 2018 and 2019 seasons in any parameter of running performance during match-play ( Figure 2 ).…”

Quantifying the Training and Match-Play External and Internal Load of Elite Gaelic Football Players

“…The evolving nature of elite Gaelic football has resulted in a requirement for increased scientific knowledge regarding the optimization of training planning and structure. Indeed, Gaelic football competition is multicyclical in nature with the typical seasonal calendar including preseason games, national league games, provincial games, and All-Ireland games across a yearly calendar [1,2]. For example, during a typical national league game week, these amateur athletes may go through a weekly round of competition, recovery, training, and a subsequent round of competition.…”

“…The above training and competition calendar results in an increased requirement of backroom staff to appreciate the typical training loads completed by elite Gaelic football players on a weekly and segmental basis across a seasonal period. These analyses allow staff prepare players to maximize performance across the seasonal period, but also for players and teams to peak at the appropriate time of the season namely the All-Ireland series which is deemed the most important competition across the Gaelic football calendar [2]. In line with this demand, there has been a proliferation of quantitative athlete monitoring approaches and strategies within elite Gaelic football teams, that are executed on daily basis [2].…”

“…These systems allow for in-depth analysis on the running profiles of athletes with measures such as total distance travelled, total high-speed running completed, average metabolic power and mechanical loading through acceleration and deceleration analysis typically reported [12][13][14]. Furthermore, the utilization of the rating of perceived effort methodology across sessions (s-RPE), provides practitioners with actionable and useful information in determining the internal load of athletes; such that the physiological stress to the external load, can effectively be captured [1,2,15,16]. These data allow coaches and conditioning staff to manipulate athletes through periods of high and low training volume and intensity to ensure these athletes are optimally balanced within the fitness-fatigue paradigm to provide increased readiness for maximal performance levels during competition.…”

“…These data allow coaches and conditioning staff to manipulate athletes through periods of high and low training volume and intensity to ensure these athletes are optimally balanced within the fitness-fatigue paradigm to provide increased readiness for maximal performance levels during competition. This approach has now been adopted by several teams as part of their training monitoring systems across elite Gaelic football teams [1,2,17].…”