Quantifying Sub-Elite Youth Football Weekly Training Load and Recovery Variation

Abstract

Monitoring the training load in football is an important strategy to improve athletic performance and an effective training periodization. The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to quantify the weekly training load and recovery status variations performed by under-15, under-17 and under-19 sub-elite young football players; and (2) to analyze the influence of age, training day, weekly microcycle, training and playing position on the training load and recovery status. Twenty under-15, twenty under-17 and twenty under-19 players were monitored over a 2-week period during the first month of the 2019–2020 competitive season. Global positioning system technology (GPS) was used to collect external training loads: total distance covered, average speed, maximal running speed, relative high-speed running distance, high metabolic load distance, sprinting distance, dynamic stress load, accelerations and decelerations. Internal training load was monitored using ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). Recovery status was obtained using the total quality recovery (TQR) scale. The results show an age-related influence for external training load (p ≤ 0.001; d = 0.29–0.86; moderate to strong effect), internal training load (p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.12–0.69; minimum to strong effect) and recovery status (p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.59; strong effect). The external training load presented differences between training days (p < 0.05, d = 0.26–0.95; moderate to strong effect). The playing position had a minimum effect on the weekly training load (p < 0.05; d = 0.06–0.18). The weekly microcycle had a moderate effect in the TD (p < 0.05, d = 0.39), RPE (p < 0.05; d = 0.35) and sRPE (p < 0.05, d = 0.35). Interaction effects were found between the four factors analyzed for deceleration (F = 2.819, p = 0.017) and between inter-day, inter-week and age for total covered distance (F = 8.342, p = 0.008). This study provided specific insights about sub-elite youth football training load and recovery status to monitor training environments and load variations. Future research should include a longer monitoring period to assess training load and recovery variations across different season phases.

Reference Values for External and Internal Training Intensity Monitoring in Young Male Soccer Players: A Systematic Review

“…Two studies analyzed the category of U16 [21,25]. Three studies analyzed the category of U17 [18,23,24]. Two studies analyzed the category of U18 [21,25].…”

“…Two studies analyzed the category of U18 [21,25]. Finally, three studies analyzed the category of U19 [18,22,24]. In addition, three studies analyzed both internal and external measures [18,19,24], three studies only analyzed internal measures [20,23,25] and two studies only analyzed external measures [21,22].…”

“…Table 4 presents the results for external measures in which four studies were included [18,19,22,24]. The table was organized according to the age categories.…”

“…Table 5 presents the results for external intensity by match-day minus (MD-) and by players positions (last two lines). The approach of MD-was used by two studies [21,24], while player positions was analyzed by one study [24]. The last line of Table 5, before player positions data, presents the range intervals according to the MD-approach for the measures most used.…”

Effects of Match Location, Quality of Opposition and Match Outcome on Match Running Performance in a Portuguese Professional Football Team

“…Hence, more analyses are required for this purpose, with a wider follow-up. Future research should also consider the relationship of accumulated training load, such as congested fixture, players' starting status and competitive level [6,92]. Match running performance analysis should also include the game model, pacing strategies and collective tactical behavior [9,55,[77][78][79].…”