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• Sep 27, 09

• Experts talk training load monitors

  I recently interviewed four leaders in the area of Monitoring Training Loads (monitoring recovery, performance and fatigue). Two of these people hold PhD’s in this area and the other two work with two of the leading NRL teams.

  I was investigating four different ways to measure training loads to assess the most applicable for different situations.
  The four methods were:
  • GPS
  • RPE (self assessment and coach’s predicated RPE)
  • Biochemical (GH, Cortisol, CK, Urea, Lactate, Glucose)
  • Questionnaires and observation

  Monitoring training loads has often been misunderstood, the key to understanding training loads monitors is to ask the question, why measure training loads?

  Essentially we are trying to measure:
  • Adaptation to training
  • Monitoring stress (training) and distress (negative effect of training)
  • Understand the training process
  • Measure internally how our athletes are coping with training
  Whether you are working with elite level athletes or the general population the take home messages are the same.
  • Put your time into writing the best program, then put the monitors in place (not the other way around)
  • Needs to be holistic (not looking at one marker in isolation)
  • Good coaching is invaluable (the art of coaching should not be under estimated)
  • Have your own system that you can control
  • Monitors need to be Valid, Reliable and Simple
  There are many ways to measure training load monitors (recovery, performance, fatigue), the key is that you are using a system that works for you and you are doing it consistently. Remember if you are not measuring it you cannot manage it. We need to be able to understand the stress and distress we place on our athletes or clients to optimise their performance.
  • Posted on the 27.09.2009, Permanent Link
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