Quantification of the typical weekly in-season training load in elite junior soccer players

Abstract

We examined the typical weekly training load experienced by elite junior soccer players during the in-season competitive period. Altogether, eight under-14 (U14), eight under-16 (U16) and eight under-18 (U18) players were monitored over a 2-week period during the first month of the 2010-11 competitive season. This time period included one competitive match per week. Physiological loading was monitored using heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Training and match loads were calculated by multiplying the global session RPE and duration (session-RPE). Total weekly training load (training and match) increased with age (U14, 2524 ± 128 arbitrary units [AU]; U16, 2919 ± 136 AU; U18, 3948 ± 222 AU; P < 0.05). Differences in the daily training load across the training week were also evident in the older age group relative to both U14 and U16. The amount of time engaged in low (<50% HRmax) and high (>90% HRmax) intensity activity during training and match-play was significantly lower and higher respectively in the U18 compared to the U14 group (P < 0.05). When comparing activity, the intensity (% HRmax) of field training (U18, 69 ± 2%; U16, 74 ± 1%; U14, 74 ± 2%) was significantly lower compared to match-play (U18, 81 ± 3%; U16, 84, ± 2%; U14, 83 ± 2) across all age groups (P < 0.05). Findings demonstrate that age related differences in the volume and intensity of weekly in-season training load are evident amongst elite professional junior soccer players. These differences may reflect a systematic approach to the long-term physical development of elite junior players.

The application of differential ratings of perceived exertion to Australian Football League matches

“…Such findings provide valuable information for interpreting meaningful betweenmatch changes in the players' different dimensions of perceived exertion. Given the relatively small range of matches included in our study (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) we recognise that our thresholds for the interpretation of change may be an overestimation and acknowledge that further work in required in this area.…”

“…3 Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) provide a simple, noninvasive, inexpensive and valid method for measuring exercise intensity. 4,5 The limited available data demonstrate competitive match RPE's to be relatively stable measures in soccer players 6 and soccer referees 7 with between-match coefficients of variation (CV) of ~5%. This lack of variability, however, is observed despite high variability (between-match CV's 17-54%) for key measures of external load, in particular high-speed running and sprinting.…”

Daily Distribution of Carbohydrate, Protein and Fat Intake in Elite Youth Academy Soccer Players Over a 7-Day Training Period

“…Milsom et al (2015) demonstrated that such populations typically 94 Therefore, the aims of the present study were two-fold: 1) to quantify the total daily 101 energy and macronutrient intakes of elite youth UK academy players of different ages 102 (U13/14, U15/16 and U18 playing squads) and 2) to quantify the daily distribution of 103 energy and macronutrient intake. In accordance with the higher absolute body masses 104 and training loads of the U18 squads (Wrigley et al, 2012), we hypothesised that this 105 squad would report higher absolute daily energy and macronutrient intakes in 106 comparison to the U13/14s and U15/16s. Furthermore, based on the habitual eating 107 patterns of both athletic and non-athletic populations (Mamerow et al, 2014), we 108 hypothesised that all squads would report an uneven daily distribution of 109 macronutrient intakes, particularly for daily protein intake.…”

Difficulties in Determining the Dose-Response Nature of Competitive Soccer Matches

“…Ratings should refer to overall perceived exertion, which depends on many factors that are integrated into a kind of gestalt or configuration [11] and the scores should be therefore representative of both internal and external load [1,10]. However, the limited data that are available have demonstrated competitive soccer match RPE's to be stable measures in both players [12] and referees [13]. The lack of variability of these measures during competitive matches is of concern when attempting to understand the dose-response nature of matches given the high variability reported for measures of external load in soccer, in particular high-speed running and sprinting [3,4].…”