Individualisation of speed thresholds does not enhance the dose-response determination in football training

ABSTRACT

This study examined the utility of a range of approaches used to develop player-dependent speed zones in time-motion analysis (TMA), in determining the dose-response (internal load) of daily football training. Daily external (10 Hz GPS) and internal load (heart rate metrics, ratings of perceived exertion [RPE], wellness ratings) measures were tracked for 22 International women’s football players during a 21-day training camp. High-speed (HSR) and very high speed running (VHSR) were determined according to arbitrary speed thresholds, as well as using a range of different individualization approaches that included the velocities corresponding to the heart rate deflection point, maximal aerobic speed, YYIR1 performance, and maximal sprint speed (MSS). Within-player correlations between the TMA approaches versus internal load measures quantified the dose-response to training. Correlations between HSR and VHSR vs. RPE were large (r = 0.53–0.67), with the exception of VHSR for the MSS technique (moderate; r = 0.44). HSR was very-largely associated with heart rate indices (r = 0.72–0.78), again with the exception of MSS (large; r = 0.60–0.67). Using a range of different fitness characteristics to individualise speed thresholds did not enhance the dose-response determination to daily fluctuations in external load, and was worsened with MSS per se.

KEYWORDS:

• Time-motion analysis
• speed thresholds
• fitness characteristics
• dose-response
• football

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the team’s coaches and players for their co-operation during all data-collection processes. We also extend our thanks to Dr. Paul Fahey for his guidance on the statistical analyses performed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.