Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads

Sandra Lechner; Achraf Ammar; Omar Boukhris; Khaled Trabelsi; Jordan M Glenn; Jesper Schwarz; Omar Hammouda; Piotr Zmijewski; Hamdi Chtourou; Tarak Driss; Anita Hoekelmann

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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1/2023
vol. 40

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abstract:

Original paper

Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads

Sandra Lechner

¹

,

Achraf Ammar

^{1, 2, 3}

,

Omar Boukhris

^{4, 5}

,

Khaled Trabelsi

^{4, 6}

,

Jordan M Glenn

⁷

,

Jesper Schwarz

⁸

,

Omar Hammouda

^{3, 9}

,

Piotr Zmijewski

¹⁰

,

Hamdi Chtourou

^{4, 5}

,

Tarak Driss

³

,

Anita Hoekelmann

¹

Institute of Sport Science, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
Department of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Neurosciences, Physiology and Psychology: Physical Activity, Health and Learning (LINP2), UPL, UFR STAPS (Faculty of Sport Sciences), Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France
High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
Research Unit, “Physical Activity, Sport and Health”, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis, Tunisia
Research Laboratory: Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, EM2S, LR19JS01, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
Department of Health, Exercise Science Research Center Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
Braunschweiger Turn- und Sportverein Eintracht von 1895 e.V., Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany
“Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, LR19ES13, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Biol Sport. 2023;40(1):63–75.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094

Online publish date: 2022/01/03

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AMA

Lechner S, Ammar A, Boukhris O, et al. Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads. Biology of Sport. 2023;40(1):63-75. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094.

APA

Lechner, S., Ammar, A., Boukhris, O., Trabelsi, K., M Glenn, J.,  & Schwarz, J. et al. (2023). Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads. Biology of Sport, 40(1), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094

Chicago

Lechner, Sandra, Achraf Ammar, Omar Boukhris, Khaled Trabelsi, Jordan M Glenn, Jesper Schwarz,  and Omar Hammouda et al. 2023. "Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads". Biology of Sport 40 (1): 63-75. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094.

Harvard

Lechner, S., Ammar, A., Boukhris, O., Trabelsi, K., M Glenn, J., Schwarz, J., Hammouda, O., Zmijewski, P., Chtourou, H., Driss, T.,  and Hoekelmann, A. (2023). Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads. Biology of Sport, 40(1), pp.63-75. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094

MLA

Lechner, Sandra et al. "Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads." Biology of Sport, vol. 40, no. 1, 2023, pp. 63-75. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094.

Vancouver

Lechner S, Ammar A, Boukhris O, Trabelsi K, M Glenn J, Schwarz J et al. Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads. Biology of Sport. 2023;40(1):63-75. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2023.112094.

PlumX metrics:

Thisstudy examined the effects of a six-week preparatory training program on physical performance and physiological adaptations in junior soccer players. Additionally, we investigated whether a relationship existed between external and internal loads. Youth soccer players (aged 16 years old) from a youth football academy participated in six weeks of pre-conditioning training. Wireless Polar Team Pro and Polar heart rate sensors (H10) were used to monitor physical performance indicators (sprint and acceleration scores, covered distance, maximum and average speed and duration), physiological responses (maximum and average heart rate [HR] and R-R interval, time in HR zones 4+5, and heart rate variability [HRV]), and training load score. Additionally, muscle status and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were measured using digital questionnaires. Significant increases were observed in the majority of physical performance indicators [i.e., sprints (p = 0.015, ES = 1.02), acceleration (p = 0.014, ES = 1), total distance (p = 0.02, ES = 0.87), as well as maximum speed (p = 0.02, ES = 0.87)]. A trend towards improvement was observed in the remaining performance indicators (i.e., distance/min and avg speed; ES = 0.6), training load (ES = 0.2), muscle status (ES = 0.3)), and all physiological responses parameters (ES = 0.1 to 0.6). Significant correlations were found between the majority of external load parameters (i.e., performance indicators) and objective (i.e., physiological responses) and subjective (i.e., RPE, muscle status) internal load parameters (p < 0.001). The highest number of moderate-large correlations were registered between performance indicators and time in HR zone 4+5 (0.58 < r < 0.82), training load (0.53 < r < 0.83), average HR (0.50 < r < 0.87), maximal HR (0.51 < r < 0.54) and average R-R interval (0.58 < r < 0.76). HR zone 4+5, average and maximal HR, average R-R interval, and training load score may help control training parameters and reduce the risk of under- or over-training in youth soccer players. However, these conclusions should be confirmed and replicated in future studies with more diverse subject populations.

keywords:

Monitoring training load in youth soccer players: effects of a six-week preparatory training program and the associations between external and internal loads

Sandra Lechner 1 , Achraf Ammar 1, 2, 3 , Omar Boukhris 4, 5 , Khaled Trabelsi 4, 6 , Jordan M Glenn 7 , Jesper Schwarz 8 , Omar Hammouda 3, 9 , Piotr Zmijewski 10 , Hamdi Chtourou 4, 5 , Tarak Driss 3 , Anita Hoekelmann 1

Youth football, External parameters, Internal parameters, Training monitoring

Sandra Lechner

¹

,

Achraf Ammar

^{1, 2, 3}

,

Omar Boukhris

^{4, 5}

,

Khaled Trabelsi

^{4, 6}

,

Jordan M Glenn

⁷

,

Jesper Schwarz

⁸

,

Omar Hammouda

^{3, 9}

,

Piotr Zmijewski

¹⁰

,

Hamdi Chtourou

^{4, 5}

,

Tarak Driss

³

,

Anita Hoekelmann

¹