Load monitoring system in top-level basketball team

Abstract

Abstract:The study aimed to describe and compare the external training load, monitored using microtechnology, with the internal training load, expressed as the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), in elite male basketball training sessions. Thirteen professional basketball players participated in this study (age=25.7±3.3 years; body height=199.2±10.7 cm; body mass=96.6±9.4 kg). All players belonged to the same team, competing in two leagues, ACB and the Euroleague, in the 2016/2017 season. The variables assessed within the external motion analysis included: player load (PL), acceleration and deceleration (ACC/DEC), jumps (JUMP), and changes of direction (CoD). The internal demands were registered using the sRPE method. Pearson productmoment correlations were used to determine relationships between the variables. A significant correlation was observed between the external load variables and sRPE (range r=0.71-0.93). Additionally, the sRPE variable showed a high correlation with the total PL, ACC, DEC, and CoD. The contrary was observed with respect to the relationship between sRPE and JUMP variables: the correlation was higher for the high band and lower for the total number of jumps. With respect to the external load variables, a stronger correlation was found between PL and the total number of ACC, DEC and CoD than the same variables within the high band. The only contrary finding was the correlation between PL and JUMP variables, which showed a stronger correlation for hJUMP. Tri-axial accelerometry technology and the sRPE method serve as valuable tools for monitoring the training load in basketball. Even though the two methods exhibit a strong correlation, some variation exists, likely due to frequent static movements (i.e., isometric muscle contractions) that accelerometers are not able to detect. Finally, it is suggested that both methods are to be used complementary, when possible, in order to design and control the training process as effectively as possible.

Training load and match-play demands in basketball based on competition level: A systematic review

“…Of the 165 articles reviewed, 35 met the criteria for the systematic review. Of the 35 articles that met the criteria, 12 had participants for elite competition demands [4,5,6,11,12,13,14,15,16,7,9,30,32], 16 articles had participants for elite training load [2,10,3,12,15,35,37,38,39,41,20,42,25,27,43,47], 6 for sub-elite competition demands [4,11,13,21,26,32], 3 for sub-elite training load [23,44,48], 5 for youth competition demands [11,18,22,9,28] and 1 for youth training load [24]. A full view of the search and selection process can be found in the PRISMA flow diagram [45] in Fig 2.…”

“…Basketball is a court-based team sport that requires proficiency in a vast array of physical parameters and motor abilities (i.e., speed, strength, and endurance) to achieve success from both a technical and tactical standpoint [1]. The ability to accelerate, decelerate, change direction, jump, and shuffle are paramount for on-court success, due to the intermittent high-a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 intensity nature of most actions and basketball-specific movements [2,3] as well as the demands of the sporting activity [4,5,6]. Importantly, in competition settings, the aforementioned abilities must be expressed in an efficient and economical manner over the course of four quarters with contributions from both aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways [1].…”

“…It is for this reason that practitioners must have a precise overview of match-play demands as well as the load elicited during training [4,5,2,6,10,3,11,12,13,14,15]. In fact, over the past years, there have been several studies documenting match-play demands in basketball [4,5,2,6,10,3,11,12,13,14,15,16,7,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,9,25,26,27,28]. Particularly, a recent review by Stojanovic et al [29] analyzed the activity demands and physiological responses obtained during basketball competition and found that playing period, playing position, level, geographical location and sex greatly influenced the stress experienced by basketball players.…”

“…In fact, internal variables such as average and maximal HR can be extracted to quantify loading parameters during match-play [11,12,21,30,26]. Concerning external load, methods such as accelerometry and the use of positional tracking cameras [4,2,13,16,7,17,31] are amongst the most common. Within this framework, total or high-intensity accelerations and decelerations, total distance traveled, and top speed reached were the widely used variables to assign a value to the mechanical load imposed.…”

“…Collectively, a better understanding of this 'real-time' feedback can give relevant and useful information concerning normative group standards, as well as relative to the individual athlete. Additionally, having a clear "picture" of both internal and external loading parameters can provide a better insight into global stress that the players deal with during training and competition [2,10,26].…”