Training load monitoring in elite English soccer: a comparison of practices and perceptions between coaches and practitioners

Abstract

Purpose: To survey practices and perceptions of training load monitoring among soccer coaches and practitioners. Methods: A questionnaire assessed factors influencing training planning, training load practices, and training load feedback and usefulness. The questionnaire was distributed via email and as an online version (Bristol Online Survey Tool) to relevant staff working within elite English Soccer. Results: Respondents represented two groups; those involved with player tactical (coach, n=94) or physical (practitioner, n=88) preparation. Coaches worked predominantly with younger players at lower standing clubs while practitioners worked with older players at higher standard clubs. With exception for the influence of current match schedule in training planning, there was coach-practitioner agreement for all training planning questions. There was agreement on some purposes for training load monitoring (maximise fitness, evaluate training) but not others (enhance fitness, reduce injury). For load monitoring methods, the greatest proportion of coach answers was for coach perception (22%); whereas the greatest proportion of practitioner responses was for GPS (22%). Largely, load reports were perceived positively and 84.1% of respondents felt training load monitoring was beneficial to their club. Conclusion: This survey shows coaches and practitioners perceive training load monitoring as worthwhile, with differences in practices and perceptions likely reflecting club infrastructure.

The epidemiology of kicking injuries in professional Rugby Union: A 15‐season prospective study

“…The relative differences between proportions of kick types, and between proportions of kick types completed by each position, were established and described in a format consistent with previously reported procedures. 28 In brief, these were calculated by subtracting the proportion of kicks in a given kick type category from that of the distance punts (for kick type) or fly-half (for kick type by position) as the reference values, as these were the categories with the highest counts for each variable. Confidence intervals (CI; 95%) and proportion ratios were calculated for each comparison using the Wilson method.…”

No association between perceived exertion and session duration with hamstring injury occurrence in professional football

“…Irrespective of the use of different time windows and alternative approaches for the calculation of training and competition loads in the present study, we did not find any effect of separate and combined measures of intensity and duration on hamstring injury occurrence were not practically important (Table ). From a real‐world perspective, current match schedule informs the training plan and weekly schedules (ie, 7‐day) are designed to ensure players are match ready . In this context, 7‐day and 28‐day periods would represent logical and practical units to define short‐ and long‐term physical loads .…”

“…From a real‐world perspective, current match schedule informs the training plan and weekly schedules (ie, 7‐day) are designed to ensure players are match ready . In this context, 7‐day and 28‐day periods would represent logical and practical units to define short‐ and long‐term physical loads . The use of multiple time periods to determine physical loads likely adds a further layer of unnecessary complexity, and it might have contributed to the inconsistency of studies in football.…”

“…Although many risk factors for hamstring injury have been investigated [ie, strength, flexibility, and previous injury], no work has evaluated the contribution of training and competition loads on hamstring injury risk. This is somewhat surprising given the increasing load demands and congested fixtures in elite football and a primary purpose of monitoring training loads in elite football is injury reduction . From an applied standpoint, a clear understanding of the association between load and non‐contact hamstring injury is an important, yet preliminary, step in the process for developing interventions to optimize performance and maximize player availability.…”

Relationship of Training Load with High-intensity Running in Professional Soccer Players

“…Training monitoring comprising of both the external and internal TL, has now become a commonplace in professional soccer [3,50]. Using wearable technologies (GPS/Heart-rate) and subjec-tive measures such as the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) [3], both external and internal training responses and their associated metrics can be measured and monitored by practitioners.…”