Monitoring Training Loads in Basketball: A Narrative Review and Practical Guide for Coaches and Practitioners

Abstract

Monitoring training load provides information about the physical demands of the sport in which athletes are competing. Strength and conditioning coaches need to use this information to periodize and make decisions on training to optimize performance and prevent injuries. The following narrative review presents the current state of knowledge on monitoring external and internal loads in basketball. The reviewed articles were classified according to the sample represented, considering 3 groups: elite, subelite, and young basketball players. In addition, we analyzed the recording procedures and methodology used in technological and ecological terms. Articles were classified, considering what was monitored and the context in which it was monitored. These settings included competition, training, and small-sided games. Performance and sports injury variables were also taken into account in our review.

Internal and External Load Control in Team Sports through a Multivariable Model

“…In the present study, our methodological proposal was tested in a semi-professional basketball environment. Adequate management of the training load is a relevant element in any phase of the season (Drew and Finch, 2016), and monitoring how this imposed load affects the players could help decision-making within the process (Piedra et al, 2021). The use of specific basketball actions, adapted in intensity and volume to actual demands, should be the primary training content since it guarantees the specificity of the stimulus (Oliveira- Da-Silva et al, 2013).…”

“…The pre-CMJ values (flight time) were collected after this initial physiological activation (Jiménez-Reyes et al, 2019), where they performed three maximum jumps and the best jump record was selected as the initial reference value (Gonzalez-Badillo et al, 2017). During the session, all exertion during training was recorded using the Polar Team Pro software (Boyd et al, 2011) and the training time was controlled (Piedra et al, 2021). HRV variables were also obtained from the session (Zamora et al, 2021).…”

“…The training load has been described as the variable that, when correctly managed, helps to obtain the desired training response (Impellizzeri et al, 2019;Piedra et al, 2021). Its control aims to optimize this process, facilitating decision-making by coaching staff and reducing injury risk factors (Sánchez Ballesta et al, 2019).…”

Workload Management Strategies to Optimize Athlete Performance in Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Basketball

“…This is because competition can have unique workloads in comparison to the training environment or specific training activities. As such, it is critical to understand the demands an athlete must be able to effectively accommodate, which can be considered during training to reveal whether an athlete has sufficiently adapted in way that improves their ability to handle the demands of competition (22,24).…”

A Validation Study of Heart Rate Variability Index in Monitoring Basketball Training Load

“…Currently, there are multiple methods of TL quantification in basketball. The external load measures include distance, speed, time-motion analysis, accelerometer load, and global positioning system (GPS) parameters, while measures such as heart rate (HR), blood lactate, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) are commonly used to assess internal load ( Piedra et al, 2021 ). However, different TL evaluation tools and indicators have their advantages and limitations.…”