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Does transforming subjective measures of load better represent training and match-play intensity in youth soccer players?

Maughan, Patrick C.; MacFarlane, Niall G.; Towlson, Chris; Barrett, Steve; Swinton, Paul A.

Authors

Patrick C. Maughan

Niall G. MacFarlane

Chris Towlson

Steve Barrett



Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure of relationships between measures of training load and assess whether these can be modified through non-linear transformations. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and seven external load measures (total distance covered, PlayerLoad, low-intensity running distance, high-speed running distance, sprinting distance, accelerations, and decelerations) were collected from 20 academy soccer players (age = 17.4 ± 1.3 yrs, stature = 178.0 ± 8.1 cm, body-mass = 71.8 ± 7.2 kg), with 3220 recordings taken across a 47-week season. To control for the effects of session duration, sessions were categorised as short (≤ 60 mins) or long (> 60 mins). All RPE and sessional RPE-training load (sRPE-TL; RPE multiplied by session duration) were analysed in their raw form and through raising to a series of exponentials. The underlying structure of the data were investigated using principal component analysis. Two components were retained for each analysis and varimax rotation performed. The first rotated component (RC) was best represented as a measure of volume (RCvolume) with high loadings for RPE and sRPE-TL, whilst the second RC was best represented as a measure of intensity (RCintensity). Non-linear transformations had little effect on loading of modified measures for long sessions for sRPE-TL (RCvolume: 0.87 to 0.8; RCintensity: 0.27 to 0.13), and for RPE (RCvolume: 0.76 to 0.79; RCintensity: 0.17 to 0.10). For short sessions, the loading became more equal between intensity and volume for sRPE-TL (RCvolume: 0.88 to 0.41; RCintensity: 0.32 to 0.36) and more aligned to intensity (RCintensity: 0.52 to 0.61) compared with volume (RCvolume: 0.44 to 0.23) for RPE. The present study demonstrates that RPE and sRPE-TL predominantly reflect measures of training volume, however, they can be modified to better reflect intensity for training sessions less than 60 minutes in duration.

Citation

MAUGHAN, P.C., MACFARLANE, N.G., TOWLSON, C., BARRETT, S. and SWINTON, P.A. 2023. Does transforming subjective measures of load better represent training and match-play intensity in youth soccer players? International journal of sports science and coaching [online], 18(5), pages 1541-1549. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221114739

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 5, 2022
Online Publication Date Aug 1, 2022
Publication Date Oct 31, 2023
Deposit Date Jul 14, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jul 14, 2022
Journal International journal of sports science and coaching
Print ISSN 1747-9541
Electronic ISSN 2048-397X
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Issue 5
Pages 1541-1549
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221114739
Keywords Soccer; Association football; Athlete monitoring; Rating of perceived exertion; Running distance: TRIMP
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1712948

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