Self-reported throwing volumes are not a valid tool for monitoring throwing loads in elite Australian cricket players: An observational cohort study

Objectives: To determine the concurrent validity of player self-reported and independently observed throwing volume. Examine whether sex, playing position, or time to upload self-reported data post training influences the accuracy of self-reported throwing loads. Design: Cross-sectional cohort study. Methods: A total of 8 female and 18 male elite cricket players participated in the study. Overarm throws from 12 training sessions during the 2020-21 cricket year were observed. Player self-reported throwing volume data were retrieved post training, with the time difference between session completion and self-reported data upload recorded. Results: A moderate positive correlation was found between self-reported and observed throwing loads (rho = 0.65), however only 22 % of players reported values within a 10 % level of error. Players reported a mean (SD) absolute inaccuracy of 11.17 (9.77) throws, and a mean (SD) relative inaccuracy of 24.76 (16.04) percent. Sex did not influence reporting accuracy (p = 0.41). Females tended to upload self-reported data the day of training, whereasmen report the day following. Playerswho uploaded their data greater than one day after trainingwere the most inaccurate with a mean relative inaccuracy of 36 %. Conclusions: While there is a clear relationship between observed and self-reported throwing volumes, the findings of this study question the validity of using player self-reported throwing load as a marker of true throwing loads with most players recording in excess of 10 % error. High performance staff and players should consider whether the current accuracy of self-reported throwing load justifies the additional reporting burden on the players during training. (c) 2022 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to examine the concurrent validity of player self-reported and independently observed throwing volume, and to investigate the influence of sex, playing position, and time to upload self-reported data on the accuracy of self-reported throwing loads. The findings showed a moderate positive correlation between self-reported and observed throwing loads, but most players reported values with significant error. Therefore, the accuracy of self-reported throwing load needs to be re-evaluated.