Monitoring the Intended and Perceived Training Load of a Professional Futsal Team Over 45 Weeks: A Case Study

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research 2016-01, Vol.30 (1), p.134-140
• Main Authors: Rabelo, Felipe N, Pasquarelli, Bruno N, Gonçalves, Bruno, Matzenbacher, Fernando, Campos, Fábio A.D, Sampaio, Jaime, Nakamura, Fábio Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Athletes - psychology; Brazil; Coaches & managers; Comparative studies; Goal setting; Human performance; Humans; Perception; Perceptions; Physical Conditioning, Human - psychology; Physical Exertion; Soccer - psychology; Sports training; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001090

ABSTRACTRabelo, FN, Pasquarelli, BN, Gonçalves, B, Matzenbacher, F, Campos, FAD, Sampaio, J, and Nakamura, FY. Monitoring the intended and perceived training load of a professional futsal team over 45 weeksa case study. J Strength Cond Res 30(1)134–140, 2016—The aims of this study were to compare the training load intended by a coach with the training load perceived by the players, over a 45-week professional futsal team season and to compare the variation of session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) across different periods of the season. Eighteen Brazilian professional futsal players participated in the study. The playersʼ rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and coachʼs rating of intended exertion (RIE) were collected daily throughout the study. To compare the sRPE variation, the season was divided into 4 periods as followspreseason (PRE-SEASON), first competitive period (COMP1), intercompetition period (INTER-COMP), and second competitive period (COMP2). Based on the cluster analyses, the training sessions were classified into 3 different intensity zones (low, moderate, and high). In all the season periods and intensity zones, the playersʼ RPEs were lower than the coachʼs RIE. In the low-intensity zone, the INTER-COMP demonstrated higher sRPE values than did the other periods. In the moderate-intensity zones, the INTER-COMP and COMP2 were similar. Finally, for the high-zone intensity, the PRE-SEASON demonstrated higher values than did the other periods. We concluded that the coach overestimated the training load reported by the players in almost all intensity training zones and season periods. The RPE scale does not seem to be a suitable tool when used by the coach for intended training load. Therefore, technical staff should constantly review the training goals in each season period through daily training load control, always taking into consideration the possibilities and limitations of the RPE method.