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Elite Soccer Players' Weekly Workload Assessment Through a New Training Load and Performance Score
Guglielmo Pillitteri1, Alessio Rossi2, Tindaro Bongiovanni3
1University of Palermo.
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|July 9, 2024
Summary
Monitoring training load in professional U19 soccer players using wearable sensors and perceived exertion revealed key external load indicators. This approach helps optimize performance and reduce injury risk by analyzing workload and physical performance scores.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Effective monitoring of training load is crucial for enhancing athlete performance and minimizing injury risk in professional soccer.
- Identifying key external load indicators in young elite athletes is essential for tailored training prescription.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary external load indicators in professional U19 soccer players.
- To develop and validate an objective approach for assessing training load and physical performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized wearable inertial sensors and the CR-10 Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale to monitor 24 professional Italian U19 soccer players.
- Employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify three key load components: metabolic volume, mechanical intensity, and metabolic/mechanical intensity.
- Computed Performance (PERF) and total workload (WORK) scores to analyze the weekly microcycle.
Main Results:
- PERF and WORK scores demonstrated low correlation (r = -0.20), indicating their independence.
- A weekly microcycle pattern was detectable across all assessed load scores.
- Statistical differences were observed between match day and playing position for PCA components and the PERF score.
Conclusions:
- An innovative machine learning approach was proposed to objectively assess players' physical performance and training load by reducing complex datasets.
- This method provides practitioners with valuable insights to optimize training prescription within the weekly microcycle based on distinct PERF and WORK scores.
