Abstract
We described the internal and external training loads (TLs) experienced by soccer players over a 4-week preseason, examined their effects on vertical jump (VJ) performance, and investigated the relationships between different TL variables. Eighteen professional soccer players performed 17 training sessions and 1 friendly-match (FM) over the preseason. The internal TL was obtained using the session-rating of perceived exertion method. The external TL variables collected were total and high-intensity distances, body-load, and high-metabolic power distance via the GPS system. VJ performance was assessed 13 times throughout the study. Moreover, total quality recovery and delayed onset muscle soreness were assessed before every training session as a measure of recovery status. Players were divided, using a median split analysis, into two groups, according to their VJ performance (i.e., “lower” and “higher” VJ). External TL variables displayed similar variations across training sessions and were significantly interrelated (r ranging from 0.48 to 0.88). In periods where higher internal TLs were detected, impaired recovery status was noticed. Notably, the higher VJ group exhibited decreased jump performance at post-test and higher internal and external TLs across the entire preseason (compared to the lower VJ group). From our results it is suggested that professional soccer players with higher VJ performance are potentially more susceptible to concurrent training effects.
Highlights
Training load (TL) monitoring has been extensively investigated in recent years to help coaches create better and more effective training programs for soccer players (Bourdon et al, 2017; Foster et al, 2001; Impellizzeri et al, 2004; Nakamura et al, 2015)
The internal and external TLs of soccer players were quantified from the first day of the preseason until the last training session before the first official match in the “Serie A São Paulo State Championship”, comprising 23 days divided over four weeks
The four tested variables of the external load demonstrated a similar variation across the preseason period, with the highest values for all variables being observed in the FM
Summary
Training load (TL) monitoring has been extensively investigated in recent years to help coaches create better and more effective training programs for soccer players (Bourdon et al, 2017; Foster et al, 2001; Impellizzeri et al, 2004; Nakamura et al, 2015). Well-planned training programs may provide players with adequate balance between stress and recovery, allowing them to achieve (and maintain) higher levels of performance throughout the entire soccer season (Bourdon et al, 2017; Coutts et al, 2007; Impellizzeri et al, 2004). 3 - UCAM Research Center for High Performance Sport - Catholic University of Murcia, UCAM, Spain. Accepted for printing in the Journal of Human Kinetics vol 81/2022 in January 2022
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