Balancing stress and recovery in sports

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between training load, recovery and monthly field test performance in young elite soccer players in order to develop training guidelines to enhance performance. In a prospective, nonexperimental cohort design, eighteen young elite soccer players registered training and match duration for a full competitive season by means of daily training logs. Furthermore, session Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and Total Quality of Recovery (TQR) scores were recorded. Weekly duration (TLd), load (duration x session RPE = TLrpe) and TQR scores were calculated for one and two weeks before a monthly submaximal Interval Shuttle Run Tests (ISRT) to determine interval endurance capacity. Participants spent on average 394.4 ± 134.9 minutes per week on training and game play with an average session RPE of 14.4 ± 1.2 (somewhat hard) and TQR of 14.7 ± 1.3 (good recovery). Random intercept models showed that every extra hour training or game play resulted in enhanced field test performance (p < .05). Session RPE and TQR scores did not contribute to the prediction of performance. The duration of training and game play in the week prior to field test performance is most strongly related to interval endurance capacity. Therefore coaches should focus on training duration to improve interval endurance capacity in elite soccer players. In order to evaluate the group and individual training response, field tests should be frequently executed and be incorporated in the training program.