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Introduction: Monitoring Training Load in soccer is used to achieve the best individualized performance outcomes and to prevent injuries. However, there is no clear recommendation for which ‘match duration’ should be used in the calculation of match Session Rating of Perceived Exertion Training Load (sRPE-TL) in NCAA DI women’s soccer. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish a duration standard to be used in the calculation of sRPE-TL in collegiate NCAA DI women’s soccer matches. A secondary aim was to investigate whether multiple positions require the use of different durations for the calculation of sRPE-TL. Methods:  Seventeen athletes (means ± standard deviations: age 20 ± 1.1 yrs., height 170 ± 6.6 cm, weight 64.6 ± 7.0 kg) participated in this study. Repeated measures correlations were used to determine the relationship between the different sRPE-TL calculations and objective variables (e.g., GPS variables and HR-based variable). Data was analyzed using the rmcorr package in R Studio executing R. Alpha was set a-priori at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The s-RPE-TL using the four ‘minutes played’ durations (‘minutes played only’, ‘warm-up added’, ‘halftime added’, and ‘warm-up and halftime added’) were strongly correlated with TLS (r = .773, .776, .789, .786), total distance (r = .825, .813, .811, .798), number of sprints (r = .716, .717, .712, .711), HSD (r = .608, .615, .609, .612), and mechanical load (r = .738, .738, .734, .732). When separated by positions, the correlations between sRPE-TL and objective data were similar across all four ‘minutes played’ durations. Conclusions: Any of the ‘minutes played’ durations should be used to calculate match sRPE-TL values for the entire team. Multiple positions do not require the use of different durations for the calculation of sRPE-TL which facilitates sRPE-TL comparisons across positions.

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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the repeated measures correlations between the sums of training load (TL) variables preceding matchday and matchday countermovement jump (CMJ) height in NCAA Division I (DI) women’s soccer athletes. Methods:  A total of 23 female soccer players (20 ± 1.2 years; 1.69 ± 0.06 m) participated in this study. Repeated measures correlations were used to determine the relationships between matchday CMJ height and TL variables. Results: Matchday CMJ height showed very weak to weak negative relationships with the sums of the TL variables for the microcycle preceding the match: sRPE-TL (r = -0.184, p = 0.036), TD (r = -0.229, p = 0.008), TLS (r = -0.192, p = 0.028), HSD (r = -0.229, p = 0.008), ML (r = -0.204, p = 0.020), and number of sprints (r = -0.237, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Although significant negative weak relationships were observed, the results suggest that the sums of TL variables preceding matchday may not be the most reliable indicators of matchday preparedness in collegiate DI women’s soccer. Future research should aim to investigate other strategies to predict matchday readiness in collegiate women’s soccer.

Introduction: Three-dimensional motion object tracking (3D-MOT) is perceptual-cognitive tool which utilizes executive function to train athletes to ignore distractors and enhance processing speed and peripheral focus. The benefits of perceptual-cognitive training in professional level athletes have recently been investigated in multiple sports such as basketball, soccer, and archery, but conclusive evidence suggesting test transferability of 3D-MOT training is lacking. The purpose of this research was to examine the transferability of perceptual-cognitive training to on-field soccer performance parameters. Methods:  NCAA Division I women’s soccer players (n=22) between the ages of 18-25 participated in the study. NeuroTracker, a 3D-MOT device to train athletes executive function and decision making, was utilized to test the athletes. After baseline testing for both groups to determine visual tracking speed (VTS), the experimental group completed 10 3D-MOT training sessions with NeuroTracker over four-weeks. Game performance data, successful action, passing percentage, and short-medium range passing percentage, was collected utilizing Wyscout video analysis software during the 2021 season. Results: The  mean VTS for the NeuroTracker training group significantly increased  by 0.68 from pre-3D-MOT training to post-3D-MOT training (p<0.001) while the control group increased by 0.12 (p = 0.034).  Analysis utilized an ANCOVA and observed no statistical significance for passing accuracy, successful action and short-medium passing accuracy (p > 0.05). However, the average in game passing-accuracy for the experimental group increased over the control group. Conclusions: The effect of test transferability of 3D-MOT training on soccer specific parameters may be present, but causation of test transferability is not present within the current study. Further research is needed to investigate the cause-and-effect relationship of 3D-MOT training on soccer specific parameters while utilizing recruitment of multiple teams to increase sample sizes for similar investigations.