Quantification of training and match load in elite youth soccer players: a full-season stud

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to quantify training and match load in elite young soccer players over the course of an entire season. METHODS: Using a longitudinal design, session-rate of perceived exertion (s-RPE) and its metrics (weekly acute workload (wAW j, acute to chronic workload ratio [wACWR], training monotony and training strain) we re examined in twenty-one elite young soccer players (mean +/- standard deviation; age: 16.1 +/- 0.2 years; height: 176.8 +/- 5.6 cm; body mass: 67.3 +/- 5.7 kg; BMI: 21.5 +/- 1.4 kg/m(2); VO2max: 47.6 +/- 3.8 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) during the whole season containing 4 mesa-cycles: preseason (Pre-S), early-season (Ear-S), mid-season (Mid-S), and end-season (End-S). RESULTS: Repeated-measures analysis of variance examined variations in s-RPE load data across the 4 meso-cycles and 1-week of microcycle. Analyzing data revealed the End-S had a significant greater wAW compared to Early-S (P=0.002, g=0..96) and Mid-S (P<0.001, g=1.09). However, no differences between in-season periods were observed in wACWR (P=0.524). The within-week variations revealed significant lower wAW in prematch a day (MD-1)(P<0.001), 1 day after match (MD+1) (P<0.001) and 2 days after match (MD+2) (P<0.001) compared to match day (M-D) for overall team analysis. Additionally, analyses by playing position showed that fullbacks have a significant lower AW in MD+2 compared to M-D (P<0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The periodization of training load indicated variations across the whole season in young elite players. The weekly microcycle perceived load could be identified as follows; there are higher training loads on M-D(-3) and MD-2 which was similar to intensities experienced by players throughout the match play and, furthermore, lower overall WL on the MD+1 and MD+2 in order to ensure the optimal recovery of the players.

Automated summary

This study aimed to quantify the training and match load in elite young soccer players over a whole season. The results showed that the perception of load varied across the different stages of the season, with lower loads before and after matches to ensure optimal recovery.