Search

Objectives: To examine the moderating effect of familiarization on the relationship between external load and ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) in elite youth soccer players. Methods: Thirty-five elite male youth soccer players were monitored over a 31-week period. Players had no previous experience using the centiMax scale (arbitrary units [AU]). The final sample included familiarized (blackness test; n = 20) and nonfamiliarized players (n = 15) with the Borg centiMax scale. Players recorded a global RPE and differential RPEs (dRPE) for breathlessness (RPE-B) and leg-muscle exertion (RPE-L) 15 to 30 minutes following training sessions and competitive matches. Separate multivariable-adjusted random-effects generalized additive models with restricted maximum likelihood quantified familiarization versus no-familiarization differences in actual perceived exertion score (in AU) by number of accelerations, decelerations, and high-speed running distance (in meters) as predictor variables, respectively. Results: Players improved their blackness test score from 39% to 78%. For explorations by number of accelerations, familiarization effects were not practically relevant for the RPE and RPE-B variables. The width and sign of the effects for the RPE-L variable at 30 efforts of 10 AU (95% CI, 4–16 AU) suggested that scores were lower for players who underwent familiarization versus players who did not. Familiarization effects were not practically relevant for any RPE variable irrespective of the number of deceleration efforts and high-speed running distance covered. Conclusion: Improved performance on the blackness test did not have a moderating effect on the relationship between proxy measures of external load and RPEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kyprianou, E, Di Salvo, V, Lolli, L, Al Haddad, H, Villanueva, AM, Gregson, W, and Weston, M. To measure peak velocity in soccer, let the players sprint. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 273–276, 2022—Expressing externals loads relative to a player's individual capacities has potential to enhance understanding of dose-response. Peak velocity is an important metric for the individualization process and is usually measured during a sprint test. Recently, however, peak velocity was reported to be faster during soccer matches when compared with a 40-m sprint test. With the aim of developing the practice of individualized training prescription and match evaluation, we examined whether the aforementioned finding replicates in a group of elite youth soccer players across a broader range of soccer activities. To do this, we compared the peak velocities of 12 full-time male youth soccer players (age 16.3 ± 0.8 years) recorded during a 40-m sprint test with peak velocity recorded during their routine activities (matches, sprints, and skill-based conditioning drills: small-sided games [SSG], medium-sided games [MSG], large-sided games [LSG]). All activities were monitored with 10-Hz global positioning systems (Catapult Optimeye S5, version 7.32) with the highest speed attained during each activity retained as the instantaneous peak velocity. Interpretation of clear between-activity differences in peak velocity was based on nonoverlap of the 95% confidence intervals for the mean difference between activities with sprint testing. Peak velocity was clearly faster for the sprint test (8.76 ± 0.39 m·s−1) when compared with matches (7.94 ± 0.49 m·s−1), LSG (6.94 ± 0.65 m·s−1), MSG (6.40 ± 0.75 m·s−1), and SSG (5.25 ± 0.92 m·s−1), but not sprints (8.50 ± 0.36 m·s−1). Our data show the necessity for 40-m sprint testing to determine peak velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]