In-season training periodization of professional soccer players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the seasonal perceived respiratory and muscular training loads (i.e., sRPEres-TL and sRPEmus-TL) completed by elite-oriented young professional soccer players. Twenty-four players (20.3 ± 2.0 years) belonging to the same reserve team of a Spanish La Liga club participated in this study. Only the players that were available to train for a whole week with the team and also to play the weekly game were considered: Starters, players that participated in the match for at least 45 min and Non-Starters, players that did not participate or played less than 45 minutes in the match. The competitive period was analysed after the division into 5x6-8 week blocks and 35x1 week microcycles. Data were also analysed with respect to number of days before the immediate match. Weekly TL variation across the in-season blocks was trivial-small for both groups except between Block 2 and Block 3 (ES= moderate). Substantial TL differences (ES= small-very likely) were found between training days, the TL pattern being a progressive increase up to MD-3 followed by a decrease until MD-1. Except for the match, sRPEres-/sRPEmus-TL was very similar between Starters and Non-Starters. In summary, perceived TL across the season displayed limited variation. Coaches periodized training contents to attain the highest weekly TL 72 hours before the match to progressively unload the players between MD-3 and the match day. The data revealed that the TL arising from the weekly game was solely responsible for the observed higher weekly TL of Starters in comparison with Non-Starters.

Keywords: Football; Internal load; Perceived exertion; Periodization; Training load.

FIG. 1

Weekly perceived TL across the in-season blocks (B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5). STARTERS (sRPEres-TL/sRPEmus-TL) B1 vs B2 Small**/Small* B2 vs B3 Moderate****/Moderate**** B3 vs B4 Trivial*/Trivial* B4 vs B5 Small**/Small* NON-STARTERS (sRPEres-TL/sRPEmus-TL) B1 vs B2 Small*/Small* B2 vs B3 Moderate****/Moderate**** B3 vs B4 Trivial*/Trivial* B4 vs B5 Small**/Small* *Possibly; **Likely; ***Very Likely; ****Most Likely

FIG. 2a

Perceived TL accumulation during the week for STARTERS (Saturday-Sunday week). sRPEres-TL/sRPEmus-TL *Possibly; **Likely; ***Very Likely; ****Most Likely MD-6 <1 MD-4 <2 MD-3 >3 MD-2 >4 MD-1 <5 Match 1: Small**/Small*** 2: Small*/Small* 3: (-)Large****/(-)Large**** 4: (-)Moderate***/(-)Small*** 5: Very large****/Very large**** MD-6 MD-2: (-)Moderate****/(-) Moderate****; >MD-1: (-)Large****/(-)Large****; MD-2: (-)Moderate****/(-)Moderate****; >MD-1: (-)Large****/(-)Large****; MD-1: (-)Very Large****/(-)Very Large****

FIG. 2b

Perceived TL accumulation during the week for NON-STARTERS (Saturday-Sunday week). sRPEres-TL/sRPEmus-TL *Possibly; **Likely; ***Very Likely; ****Most Likely MD-6 <1 MD-4 <2 MD-3 >3 MD-2 >4 MD-1 >5 Match 1: Small**/Moderate*** 2: Small**/Small** 3: (-)Large****/(-)Large**** 4: (-)Small**/(-)Very likely Small*** 5: Unclear/(-)Small* MD-6 MD-2: (-)Very likely Moderate***/(-)Very likely Moderate***; >MD-1: (-)Very large****/(-)Most likely Moderate****; >Match: (-)Large****/(-)Very large**** MD-4 >MD-2: (-)Large****/(-)Large****; >MD-1: (-)Very large****/(-) Large****; >Match: (-)Very large****/(-)Very large**** MD-3 > MD-1: (-)Very large****/(-)Very large****; >Match: (-)Very large****/(-)Very large****; MD-2 >Match: (-)Small**/(-)Moderate***