Monitoring in Elite Youth Soccer: Describing Load, Reducing Data and Assessing its Relationship with Physical Fitness Outcomes
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2022
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The stochastic nature of soccer requires players to stress a range of different physical capabilities. Developing these physical abilities concurrently (i.e., alongside technical, and tactical training) poses a significant challenge and therefore requires a systematic approach to training design and management. The widespread use of player monitoring tools and quantity of data recorded requires a greater understanding the variation that can occur in these parameters across a competitive season. This thesis contains 7 independent studies which aim to describe the training loads incurred by elite-level youth soccer players, identify the constructs that can help to prescribe training, remove data redundancy by identifying the variables that parsimoniously describe the training load performed, and finally, describe the association between select training load variables and physical outcomes in this specific population. The collective findings in this thesis provide a new detailed description of the quantity and distribution of sRPE training load performed by elite youth soccer players, highlighting the importance of controlling training duration to manage training load and identify contextual factors that influence periodisation strategies. The present results also question the efficacy of applying PCA as a data reduction method to agnostically identify constructs of training loads for the purposes of player monitoring. The findings also highlight the complex nature of the dose-response relationship between training load variables and fitness outcomes. Additionally, the results of each individual study highlight subtle differences between age groups, their periodization strategy and trends in the evolution of players physical capacity. Key learnings for practitioners are provided through demonstrating an evidence-informed approach to player monitoring and show how the importance of various player monitoring data can be assessed through the research process. Collectively, the findings of this thesis support the application of a conceptual framework for the identification of suitable training load constructs and the metrics to be included in a training load monitoring system for elite youth soccer players. Indeed, it is recommended that practitioners and scientists embrace the uncertainty and individual differences that exists in the complex system of training youth footballers. These findings can be used to refine and enhance the approach to player monitoring in a world class youth academy, but with the acknowledgement the there is a complex relationship between training loads and outcomes in elite youth football. Further research is required to identify other methods that can provide practical insights to the monitoring process and facilitate players long-term development.
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