Training, Wellbeing and Recovery Load Monitoring in Female Youth Athletes

Abstract

Participation in youth sports is ever-increasing, along with training and competition demands placed upon youth athletes. Young athletes may experience high training loads due to playing several sports, as well as participating in school physical education. Therefore, monitoring youth athlete load is an emerging area of research that may help limit non-functional overreaching, injury, or illness and assist with long-term athlete development. This narrative review highlights that multiple measures have been explored to monitor both internal and external load. However, the validity, reliability and practicality of these measures are often not fully understood in female youth populations. The most commonly used external monitoring methods are GPS tracking and TRIMP whereas common internal monitoring tools are questionnaires, perceived exertion rating and heart rate measures. The reporting of injuries and menstrual cycles is also crucial for providing completeness when monitoring an athlete. It has been suggested that the combination of training load, recovery and wellbeing monitoring variables is the optimal way to monitor an athlete’s fatigue levels. Whichever monitoring method is applied, in a youth population it is important that the protocol can be individualised, is inexpensive and can be easily implemented and reported so that the monitoring is sustainable.

“I hardly have a problem […] I have my period quite rarely too”: Female football players’ and their coaches’ perceptions of barriers to communication on menstrual cycle

“…In the present study, the coaches coped by outsourcing MC matters to female staff members and MC apps where they had no insight. Although previous research suggest that the MC should be monitored just like the athlete’s training load, recovery, wellbeing, and injuries to promote the long-term development ( 35 ), it can be discussed if their coping strategy maintained the interpersonal barriers since it also meant avoiding direct MC communication with the athletes. For example, their lack of direct involvement might have been interpreted as a lack of interest by the athletes.…”

“…Furthermore, this may also indicate a mismatch between the social support actions and the intended social support messages ( 28 ). Temm et al ( 35 ) argued that whichever monitoring method is applied, it is crucial that it can be individualized, is affordable, and easy to implement. Here, possibly combined with other protocols, direct coach–athlete communication can be an effective and inexpensive way to prevent ACL injury and RED-S among female athletes.…”

Como Treinadores De Esportes Para Pessoas Com Deficiência Monitoram a Carga De Treinamento?

“…A razões para utilizar um sistema de monitoramento da resposta à carga de treinamento foram: Acompanhar as melhorias no desempenho (91,7%), gerenciar a carga de treinamento (83,3%) e reduzir lesões (75,0%). Os resultados do presente estudo corroboram aos achados na literatura científica, principalmente em equipes de elite e profissionais de uma variedade de esportes (BORRESEN;LAMBERT, 2009;HALSON, 2014;TAYLOR et al, 2012;TEMM et al, 2022).…”

The Physiological Requirements of and Nutritional Recommendations for Equestrian Riders

“…Menstrual cycle phases are thought to impact exercise performance via alterations in female athletes' hormonal profiles, affecting systemic physiology [241]. It is reasonable that this may extend to factors affecting equestrian performance.…”