(5) MONITORING SESSION RATING OF PERCEIVED EXERTION THROUGHOUT A COMPETITIVE SEASON IN MEN COLLEGIATE SOCCER ATHLETES

Background: Monitoring athlete internal load during training and match play through rating of perceived exertion (RPE), may lead to more effective coaching and program design. Primary (i.e., high minute) and secondary (i.e., low minute) players are frequently exposed to different seasonal training demands; therefore, session RPE (sRPE) may differ between groups. Limited data exist relative to assessment of sRPE across an entire competitive season in collegiate soccer athletes.

Purpose: To examine differences in sRPE workloads between primary and secondary players across a 10-week men’s collegiate soccer season.

Methods: Thirty-two National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s soccer athletes (n=32; mean + SD; age: 20.15 + 1.59 years, body mass: 76.08 + 6.5 kg; height: 180.45 + 7.12 cm; body fat: 16.3 + 2.31%) participated. Within 30 minutes of completing training (n=39) or a match (n=15), players were asked to rate the intensity of the session utilizing the Borg CR-10 scale. Internal load was determined via assessment of RPE, which was used to calculate sRPE (sRPE=RPE x duration (min). Players were divided into primary and secondary players, with primary classified as playing > 45 minutes of at least 8 of the 15 regular-season games. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) evaluated weekly differences in sRPE. A 2x10 (group x week) RMANOVA was used to identify weekly differences in sRPE between primary and secondary players. If significance was observed (p< 0.05), Bonferroni post-hoc analysis was used.

Results: Variation in sRPE was observed over the course of the season (p< 0.001). Weeks 3 and 5 exhibited (p < 0.05) lower sRPE values than weeks 6-10. Weekly differences in sRPE values between primary and secondary players are presented in Figure 1. Overall, primary players reported significantly higher sRPE values than secondary players (p < 0.001). Primary players had higher sRPE during weeks 2 (p < 0.001), 3 (p < 0.028), 5 (p < 0.001), and 6 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Variations in internal load were observed throughout the competitive season and between primary and secondary players. The variation was most pronounced from the beginning of the season until the mid-point. Further, 2 matches were played during weeks 3, 5, and 6 which may have attributed to primary players experiencing greater sRPE than secondary players. Practical Application: It is recommended athlete workloads be monitored and training intensity be adjusted as needed in order to maintain consistency across primary and secondary players throughout the competitive season.

Acknowledgements: None