What is training load? And why do we collect this data in the AMS?
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Background
Coaches and high performance staff use measures of an athlete's training load and recovery/wellness to review how an an athlete is responding and adapting to their training programs. There are a number of different ways that a coach or the support staff may measure training load and an athlete's response to training and competition. This may include an understanding of not only the physical load placed upon an athlete in training and competition, but also how the load will effect the body in other ways such as the level of fatigue, sleep, nutrition requirements, stress and mental well being.
These measures are used to assist in the planning of future training sessions with the aim to maximise the athlete's individual training response to improve performance. As well as striving to get the best possible improvements in performance, measuring and monitoring an athlete's training load is also used to reduce the risk of sustaining an injury or illness. These measures are also often used to the medical team when planning the rehabilitation of an injury to ensure that the athlete can recover as quickly as possible without increasing the risk of re-injury.
Getting Started
When initially designing athlete monitoring the process can be can potentially be overwhelming, due to the multitude of variables that can be used, however the initial process can be simplified by determining “what do you want to achieve with athlete monitoring?”
- More accurately assess the positive effects of training response against the negative impacts of fatigue
- Potentially manage/reduce risk of injury and illness
- Make more informed decisions on the design and prescription of training and recovery strategies
- To be able to manage athlete better individually by gaining insight of athlete’s internal response to external training loads
- Quantify individual strengths and weaknesses
- Track the trends in athlete’s progression and performance
- Assess the athlete’s preparedness for training and competition
Summary
The primary outcome of effective athlete monitoring is that it is administered as a method of promoting training and improving performance, not restricting it.
Once you are clear on your reasons for monitoring athletes you need to consider what information you want to collect and analyse.