Original Article

External and internal training load relationships in

soccer players
UTKU ALEMDAROĞLU 1
Faculty of Sport Sciences, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between internal training loads (TL) (Polar
(PLR), Edwards (EDW) Training-Impulse (TRIMP) session RPE (s-RPE) external TL (Total distance (TD),
covered distance in five different zone, number of acceleration (ACC) and deceleration actions (DEC) in
professional soccer players. Twenty male professional soccer players (age = 27.6 years; height = 177.6±7.1
cm; body mass = 69± 8.3 kg) from a professional soccer team voluntarily participated in the study. The
correlations between the values were examined individually for each athlete by Pearson correlation test.
According to the results of this study showed that there were very large and nearly perfect relations between
s-RPE and both HR-based methods (EDW and PLR TRIMP) (respectively, r = .51 - .91; r= .44 -. 90).
Additionally, from moderate to large correlations were observed between internal TL methods and external
TL methods (walking, number of ACC-DEC actions) (between r = .56 - .82). Moreover, the relations between
internal load and external load parameters were weakened in high-speed zones. According to the results of
the current study, meanwhile s-RPE may be evaluated in practice as a useful and inexpensive for monitoring
the internal TL method, the number of ACC and DEC actions could be appropriate for external TL. Keywords:
Sports performance; Total distance; Acceleration; Deceleration; Rating of perceived exertion; Heart rate.

Cite this article as:

Alemdaroğlu, U. (2020). External and internal training load relationships in soccer players. Journal of Human Sport
and Exercise, in press. doi:https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2021.162.07

1
Corresponding author. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1025-
0965
E-mail: [email protected]
Submitted for publication December 9, 2019
Accepted for publication February 7, 2020
Published in press February 24, 2020
JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE ISSN 1988-5202
© Faculty of Education. University of Alicante
doi:10.14198/jhse.2021.162.07
VOLUME -- | ISSUE - | 2020 | 1
Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, training and competition loads on elite athletes have dramatically increased because of an ever
more congested sports calendar (Schwellnus et al., 2016). Therefore, training monitoring has become an
essential process for coaches and sports science practitioners to examine the individual response of players.
Training monitoring allows coaches to adapt their programs, help manage illness/injury risk, assess fatigue
and the associated need for recovery and avoid the risk of non-functional overreaching (Bourdon et al., 2017;
Halson, 2014; B. R. Scott, Lockie, Knight, Clark, & Janse De Jonge, 2013; Soligard et al., 2016). Training
load monitoring systems can be categorized into two main types. The first one, internal loads covers both
physiological and psychological stressors (heart rate, blood lactate, oxygen consumption, and ratings of
perceived exertion (RPE) etc.) imposed on the athlete during training and competition (Bourdon et al., 2017;
Ian Lambert & Borresen, 2010; B. R. Scott et al., 2013; T. J. Scott, Black, Quinn, & Coutts, 2013; Soligard et
al., 2016). Researchers advise that using internal TL may be most appropriate for monitoring training
(Bourdon et al., 2017; B. R. Scott et al., 2013; T. J. Scott et al., 2013). The second, external loads, includes
objective measures of the work (power output, speed, acceleration (ACC), deceleration (DEC) etc.)
performed by the athlete during training or competition (Bourdon et al., 2017; Ian Lambert & Borresen, 2010;
Soligard et al., 2016). External TL seems to be more suitable in the prescription and planning of the training
process (Bourdon et al., 2017; B. R. Scott et al., 2013; T. J. Scott et al., 2013).

Especially in team sports, a wide range of internal load parameters have been monitored by coaches
(McLaren, Smith, Spears, & Weston, 2017) to ensure that each athlete receives adequate training stimulus
(Impellizzeri, Rampinini, Coutts, Sassi, & Marcora, 2004). The most common internal load parameters are
heart rate (HR) based methods, made possible by wireless cardio monitoring technology which allows
coaches to transfer of HR data from a transmitter belt worn on the chest to a receiver worn as a wristwatch
(Alexandre et al., 2012). Different Training-Impulse (TRIMP) methods have been used by coaches for training
monitoring such as Edwards’ TRIMP (EDW), which is calculated by multiplying the time spent in five arbitrary
pre-defined HR zones by arbitrary coefficients (Manzi et al., 2010; Paulson, Mason, Rhodes, & Goosey-
Tolfrey, 2015; B. R. Scott et al., 2013) and Banister’s TRIMP, which is calculated by using anaerobic threshold
heart rate values and the time spent in arbitrary pre-defined zones (Clarke, Farthing, Norris, Arnold, &
Lanovaz, 2013; Manzi et al., 2010; Paulson et al., 2015; B. R. Scott et al., 2013).

However, there are some problems using HR based methods in soccer training such as environmental
conditions and medications, affecting heart responses of players (Alexandre et al., 2012), and the cost of
systems and technical staff requirements. It should also be mentioned that restrictions on the use of HR
transmitter belts during official competitive matches (Impellizzeri et al., 2004)mean that coaches lack match
data that may represent a relatively high percentage of the weekly training load (Impellizzeri et al., 2004). For
these reasons, many studies examine the s-RPE methods instead of HR-based methods in soccer players,
they represent valid alternative and they showed large to very large correlation between s-RPE and EDW
TRIMP (r= .54 – .78) (Casamichana, Castellano, Calleja-Gonzalez, Roman, & Castagna, 2013; Impellizzeri
et al., 2004; Scott, et al., 2013). Research in the other team sports shows similar results (Lupo, Tessitore,
Gasperi, & Gomez, 2017; Manzi et al., 2010; Paulson et al., 2015; Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, Borges, & Dalbo,
2014; Scott, et al., 2013). According to the results of previous studies, s-RPE is valid, reliable, inexpensive
and very simple method and could be used as an alternative instead of HR-based methods for monitoring
training load (Foster et al., 2001; Singh, Foster, Tod, & McGuigan, 2007; Wallace, Slattery, & Coutts, 2014).

The best way for monitoring training is to use internal load and external load together (Paulson et al., 2015).
Thus, especially in the last two decades, measuring and evaluating external load parameters (distance

2 | 2020 | ISSUE - | VOLUME -- © 2020 University of Alicante

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

covered in various speed zones, distance covered at high intensity, metabolic power, player load (ACC-
based method), number of ACC and DEC actions in different zones etc.) of players has been commonly used
thanks to the development of technological equipment such as GPS, high-speed video analysis systems and
accelerometers (Barris & Button, 2008; McLaren et al., 2017). The most common and valid methods for
determining external TL and the performance of soccer players are high-speed running distance (HSR) and
sprint distance (above a given high-speed threshold close to maximal running velocity) (Varley & Aughey,
2013). Mohr et al. (2003) compared the HSR performance of elite level players and moderate level players
and reported that elite level players covered a 28% greater HSR distance in a soccer game than their
moderate level counterparts. However, using distance covered at high intensity has some drawbacks for
training monitoring, such as underestimation of training load. The main reason of this underestimation is that
some high-intensity actions are classified as low-speed activity according to speed zones in monitoring
systems, because many high-intensity actions happen in short duration without a change in location on the
pitch (Dalen, JØrgen, Gertjan, Havard, & Ulrik, 2016; Scott, et al., 2013). Moreover, Varley and Aughey
(2013) reported that during soccer matches the number of maximal ACC actions is 8-fold higher than sprints
in soccer players. At the same time, DEC actions includes eccentric contraction and the metabolic demands
of DEC actions could be relatively lower, but many external loads consist of DEC actions (Dalen et al., 2016).
Besides, it should be remembered that ACC and DEC actions are more energetically demanding than
constant-speed movement (Osgnach, Poser, Bernardini, Rinaldo, & Di Prampero, 2010).

For all these reasons, determining the individual responses of players to ACC and DEC actions in competition
and training and the relations between ACC and DEC actions and internal load parameters would add great
value to the existing body of knowledge since using these values could allow coaches and sports science
practitioners to develop and manage their players’ physical attributes in a more detailed way, taking account
of game demands and avoiding injuries (Varley & Aughey, 2013). Moreover, the use of ACC-based methods
to quantify external TL and the relationship between this and other TL methods in professional soccer is yet
to be comprehensively examined (Scott, et al., 2013). To our knowledge, this is the first study to use the
number of ACC and DEC n different speed zones in a team sport. Thus, the present study aimed to examine
the relationships among Polar (PLR) TRIMP, EDW TRIMP, s-RPE, TD, distance covered in different speed
zones, and the number of ACC and DEC actions in professional soccer players.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Participants
The data was collected over a 10-week soccer season. Twenty professional male soccer players (age = 27.6
years; height = 177.6±7.1 cm; body mass = 69± 8.3 kg) from a professional soccer team participated the
study voluntarily. Before the data collection procedure, the players performed the modified shuttle run test
(MSRT) to determine maximal HR (HRmax) and HR training zones. The Polar Pro (Polar Electro, Kempele,
Finland) device was used for 10 weeks (6 weeks pre-competition and 4 weeks in-competition period) in all
field workouts (with the exception of strength and regeneration training). The EDW and (PLR) TRIMP,
distance covered at various speeds, the number of ACC and DEC actions in three different zones and s-RPE
were determined. Data were collected across 761 individual field-based training. The relationships between
external and internal training loads were examined and the strength of the relationship was calculated for
each player.

VOLUME -- | ISSUE - | 2020 | 3

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

Design and procedures

Modified shuttle run test (MSRT)
The MSRT was used on a 100m circular track to determine the maximum heart rate responses of players.
Güvenç et al. (2011) reported that the MSRT is a reliable test to determine HRmax (ICC: .90). The MSRT
was performed on a natural grass soccer pitch with cones placed every 20m in a circle. The pace was set
with a computer throughout the test. The initial speed was set at 10 km·h-1 and was increased by 1 km·h-1
every 3 minutes until exhaustion or two failures to reach the next cone before the signal. Between the stage,
players sat and rested for one minute, during which a blood sample was taken from an ear lobe and
immediately analysed using a Lactate Plus analyser (Nova Biomedical, USA) which had been previously
validated. A Polar Pro (Polar Electro, Kempele, Finland) device was used to determine the players’ HR
values.

Internal training load

The s-RPE method is very common training monitoring tool and many researchers have reported that this
method is a valid, reliable, inexpensive and very simple in various exercise activities (Foster et al., 2001;
Singh et al., 2007). This method is also useful for team sports (Ian Lambert & Borresen, 2010; Impellizzeri et
al., 2004). The training load was calculated using the s-RPE (CR-10 scale, table 1) by multiplying the training
duration (in minutes) by the RPE for the session as described by Foster et al. (Foster et al., 2001). Players
were asked how hard you’re their workout was; each athlete’s session-RPE was collected about 30 min after
the training session to ensure that each subject reported a global RPE for the entire session rather than the
most recent exercise (Singh et al., 2007). The data were collected by the coach of the team. Each player was
confidentially interviewed and not allowed to see the values given by other players. Before the study, the CR-
10 scale was explained to players verbally and used for two weeks to ensure that they were familiarized with
it.

Table 1. The modified Borg Category Ratio-10 Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale.
Rating Descriptor
0 Rest
1 Very, very easy
2 Easy
3 Moderate
4 Somewhat hard
5 Hard
6
7 Very hard
8
9
10 Maximal

Two HR-based methods of determining internal load were used in this study. PLR TRIMP was obtained
automatically by using the Polar Team Pro system. The other method used was the EDW TRIMP method,
which determines TL by calculating the product of the accumulated training duration (minutes) in 5 HR zones
applying a coefficient relative to each zone (50 – 60% of HRmax =1; 60 –70% of HRmax = 2; 70 – 80% of
HRmax = 3; 80 –90% of HRmax =4; 90 –100% of HRmax = 5) and then summing the result (Manzi et al.,
2010; Paulson et al., 2015; Scott, et al., 2013).

4 | 2020 | ISSUE - | VOLUME -- © 2020 University of Alicante

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

External training load

Players’ movements during the training were recorded using a portable global positioning system (Polar
electro, Kemple, Finland). A Polar Team Pro device was placed into a harness attached to specifically
designed chest belts worn according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the centre of the chest at the level
of the xiphoid process (chest-mounted). All data were downloaded using the Team Pro web page
(teampro.polar.com). During each session total distance (TD) was measured, with the players’ activities
divided into five speed thresholds: walking (.1–7.1 km.h-1); jogging (jog) (7.2–14.3 km.h-1); running (run)
(14.4–19.7 km.h-1); high-speed running (HSR) (19.8–25.1 km.h-1); sprinting (>25.1 km.h-1) (Bradley, Di
Mascio, Peart, Olsen, & Sheldon, 2010). Deceleration and acceleration actions thresholds were set for low-
intensity, moderate-intensity and high-intensity ACC actions at 1–2, 2–3, and >3 m.sn-2; DEC actions at -1–
2, -2–3, and >-3 m.sn-2, respectively (Abbott, Brickley, Smeeton, & Mills, 2018).

Statistical Analysis
A total of 761 individual training sessions were monitored for the twenty soccer players. Individual correlations
were determined based on data from a minimum of 18 training sessions to a maximum of 46. All data were
analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 21.0, Chicago, Illinois, USA).
The mean and SD for each variable were determined to quantify the demands of each training session.
Individual Pearson's product-moment correlations between s-RPE, HR-based measures, and external TL
were computed using the number of practice sessions for each player according to the methods of Clarke et
al. (Clarke et al., 2013). Before Pearson's calculations, product-moment correlations testing skewness and
kurtosis were undertaken to determine the normality of the values (-2 – +2). The magnitude of all correlations
were categorized according to the following scale: trivial (r < .1), small (r = .1 – .3), moderate (r = .3 – .5),
large (.5 – .7), very large (r = .7 – .9), nearly perfect (r > .9), and perfect (r = 1) (Hopkins, Marshall, Batterham,
& Hanin, 2009).

RESULTS

Figure 1. Individual correlations between s-RPE and Edwards (EDW) and Polar (PLR) training impulse
(TRIMP).
VOLUME -- | ISSUE - | 2020 | 5
Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

A large to nearly perfect individual correlation was found between s-RPE and EDW TRIMP (r = .51 – .91).
The correlations of s-RPE and PLR TRIMP were from moderate to nearly perfect (r = .44 – .90) (Figure 1).
There was also a nearly perfect correlation between two HR-based TL methods (r = .84 – .99), as outlined in
Figure 1. All correlations between internal load parameters were significant (p < .01).

Figure 2. Individual correlations between s-RPE and (a) number of accelerations in the three different zones,
(b) number of decelerations in the three different zones and (c) total distance (TD), walking distance and
jogging distance and (d) running, high intensity running (HSR) and sprint distances.

As can be seen in Figure 2, there were small to very large correlations between s-RPE and number of ACC
actions (between s-RPE and low r= .29 – .72; between s-RPE and moderate r= .42 – .82; between s-RPE
and high r= .31 – .75) (Figure 2a). The correlations between s-RPE and number of ACC actions were
statistically significant (p < .05) in almost all cases, the exceptions being player 6 in low-intensity zone and
player 4 in low and high intensity zones.

Similarly, a small to very large individual correlation was found between s-RPE and the number of DEC
actions (between s-RPE and low intensity r= .32 – .81; s-RPE and moderate intensity r= .40 –. 79; s-RPE
and high intensity r= .19 – .68) (p < .05; all correlations were found to be significant except for those relating
to players 13 and 6 in the high intensity zone) (see Figure 2b).

As shown in Figure 2c, moderate to very large relationships were found between s-RPE and TD and between
s-RPE and distance covered at walking pace ( r= .36 – .81; r= .29 – .7, respectively; p >.1); these were
statistically significant for all players except player 1 for TD and player 9 for distance covered at walking pace
were not significant).

According to our results, the correlation between s-RPE and distances covered became weaker in the higher
intensity zones. While the relationships between s-RPE and Jogging (see Figure 2c) and between s-RPE

6 | 2020 | ISSUE - | VOLUME -- © 2020 University of Alicante

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

and running were positive (small to very large: r= .12 – .71; r= .16 – .58, respectively), there were both
negative and positive relations between s-RPE and HSR and between s-RPE and sprint distance covered
(trivial to large: r= .001 – .69 - r = .009 – .501, respectively), as shown in Figure 2d. These correlations were
significant for only 7 players in distance covered jogging, 9 players in running distance, 6 players in HSR
distance, and 3 players in sprint distance, p < .05).

Figure 3. Correlations between Edwards TRIMP and (a) number of accelerations in the three zones, (b)
number of decelerations in the three different zones and (c) total distance (TD), walking distance and jogging
distance and (d) running, high intensity running (HSR) and sprint distance.

As shown in Figure 3a, significant moderate to very large relationships were found between EDW TRIMP
and number of ACC actions (EDW TRIMP and low intensity r= .43 – .76; EDW TRIMP and moderate intensity
r= .50 – .83; EDW TRIMP and high intensity r= .39 – .83, p > .01).

There were moderate to very large correlations between EDW TRIMP and number of DEC actions (EDW
TRIMP and low intensity r= .38 – .85; EDW TRIMP and moderate intensity r= .52 –.83; EDW TRIMP and
high intensity r= .38 –.68, p > .01) (see Figure 3b).

The correlations between EDW TRIMP and distance covered at high intensity were similar to those between
s-RPE and these values. As shown in Figure 3, the correlations EDW TRIMP and jogging, running, HSR and
sprint distances ranged from trivial to very large (EDW TRIMP and jogging distance r= .09 – .80; EDW TRIMP
and running distance r= .19 – .71; EDW TRIMP and HSR distance r= .06 – .72; EDW TRIMP and sprint
distance r= -.03 – .50). These correlations were found to be statistically significant for 7 players in jogging,
15 players in running, 12 players in HSR and 3 players in sprint, p > .05).

VOLUME -- | ISSUE - | 2020 | 7

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

DISCUSSION

The present study aimed to examine the relationships between internal and external TL in professional soccer
players. The main findings are related to the measures of HR based TLs (PLR TRIMP, EDW TRIMP) and s-
RPE measures, which demonstrated large to nearly perfect correlations with each other, as shown in Figure
1. Our results are in line with previous studies that have examined the relationships between EDW TRIMP
and s-RPE for quantifying training load in team sports such as Australian rules football (Scott, et al., 2013),
soccer (Casamichana et al., 2013; Impellizzeri et al., 2004; Scott, et al., 2013), Canadian football (Clarke et
al., 2013), basketball (Lupo et al., 2017; Manzi et al., 2010; Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, Borges, et al., 2014;
Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, & Dalbo, 2014) and wheelchair rugby (Paulson et al., 2015). Impellizzeri et al. (2004)
were the first researchers to report that s-RPE is a valid method to quantify internal TL in soccer players;
large to very large correlations were reported between EDW TRIMP and s-RPE TL methods for player’s
reactions to training sessions in their study (r = .54 – .78, p <.001). Casamichana et al. (2013) and Scott et
al. (2013) reported similar results, finding large and very large correlations between s-RPE and EDW TRIMP
in soccer players (r = .57, .77, respectively). Parallel results have been obtained in studies conducted in
basketball, which reported significant relationships from very large to nearly perfect between individual s-
RPE and EDW TRIMP (between r = .75-.95) (Lupo et al., 2017; Manzi et al., 2010; Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, &
Dalbo, 2014). Besides, Scott et. al. (2013) and Paulson et al. (2015) found very large (r = >.80) and large (r
= .64) correlations between s-RPE and EDW TRIMP methods in their studies. EDW TRIMP is the most
common HR-based method, thus many studies have examined the relationship between EDW TRIMP and
s-RPE. However, to our knowledge only one study has compared the relationship between s-RPE and PLR
TRIMP. Clarke et al. (2013) found significant correlations between s-RPE with PLR TRIMP in Canadian
football players (r = .65 – .91). Our study is therefore in line with previous studies in showing that s-RPE is a
valid, reliable, inexpensive and straightforward method for monitoring TL in team sports (Foster et al., 2001;
Singh et al., 2007; Wallace et al., 2014). On the other hand, coaches should consider that the individual
psychological states of players could lead them to perceive the same physiological stimuli differently (Morgan,
1973), which can cause intra-individual variations while using s-RPE. Moreover, the correlations between s-
RPE and heart rate-based methods are lower in interval-based training than in endurance-based training
(Foster, 1998). A possible explanation for this difference could be the energy demands of soccer training,
which involves intermittent actions requiring both aerobic and anaerobic sources for energy provision in the
same training session (Bangsbo, 1994; Halson, 2014). In the light of this information, it is recommended that
both s-RPE and HR based TL measures are employed to monitor internal TL in soccer players.

One of the important findings of our study is that, while the correlation between s-RPE and TD ranged from
moderate to nearly perfect (mean r = .55), the correlations between s-RPE and distance covered in the five
different speed zones fluctuated greatly across the training sessions assessed (see Figures 2c and 2d).
Similarly, previous studies have showed that, while distance covered each session is strongly associated
with s-RPE (Bartlett, O’Connor, Pitchford, Torres-Ronda, & Robertson, 2017; Casamichana et al., 2013;
Paulson et al., 2015; Scott, et al., 2013), as the speed of external TL increases, the correlations with s-RPE
become weaker (Scott, et al., 2013). Decreasing GPS validity in high-intensity exercises can be an important
factor in the emergence of this finding (Scott, et al., 2013). Another possible explanation for lower RPE
responses after high-intensity activities could be the structure of high-intensity training, with long rest periods
between high-speed activities such as sprint training (Paulson, et al., 2015). Coaches should still take into
account HSR and sprint data, which may provide important information pertaining to the external TL of soccer
players, because, while TD is the most important descriptor of internal load for one player, HSR or sprint
distance covered could be for another (Bartlett et al., 2017; Scott, et al., 2013). EDW and PLR TRIMP also
were used as internal load training monitoring methods in the current study. The correlations between HR-

8 | 2020 | ISSUE - | VOLUME -- © 2020 University of Alicante

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

based methods and TD, and between HR-based methods and distances covered in the five speed zones
were similar to the correlations between s-RPE and those external TL methods. Scott et. al. (2013) reported
a strong correlation between HR-based methods and distance covered at low speeds but the correlations
became weaker with distances covered at higher speeds. The reason HR-based internal-TL measures may
be underestimated is that due to the contribution of anaerobic metabolism to high-intensity activities, HR
responses of players change slowly because of the short duration of high-intensity exercise (Scott, et al.,
2013).

Another important finding of this study was the large and very large correlations between both s-RPE and
HR based methods and numbers of ACC and DEC actions independent of zones. Acceleration capabilities
of players are vital in decisive activities and may be more important than a player's maximal running speed
in team sports (Vázquez-Guerrero, Suarez-Arrones, Gómez, & Rodas, 2018). Dalen et al. (2016) reported
that DEC and ACC contributed to up to 10% of the total player load (PL) in soccer. Thus, calculating the
number of ACC and DEC actions and PL using the sum of accelerations recorded in the three principal axes
of movement (anteroposterior, mediolateral, and craniocaudal) are very common external load monitoring
methods over recent decades (Boyd, Ball, & Aughey, 2013; Castillo, Weston, McLaren, Cámara, & Yanci,
2017; Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, Borges, et al., 2014; Soligard et al., 2016). Although accelerometers and GPS
devices that enable ACC parameters to be measured have been used for individualization and optimization
of exercise and recovery programs by coaches and sports scientists there are few studies in team sports
which have made use of those values. One of these studies reported large to very large correlations between
PL and EDW TRIMP and s-RPE in soccer players (r = .70 and .74, respectively) (Casamichana et al., 2013).
In a similar study, Scott et. al. (Scott, et al., 2013)reported a strong correlation between s-RPE and PL in
Austrian football players; they stated that PL is a valid tool for examining the training load in team sports.
Some soccer-specific very high-intensity activities such as dribbling, heading, tackling and kicking which
include jumps and turns could be classified under a low-speed locomotor category because players are not
able to reach high-speed zones, even though these movements impose a high physiological load on the
player (Dalen et al., 2016; Scott, et al., 2013). Therefore, the use of ACC and DEC actions as well as speed
and displacement data could be vital in order to measure external load responses (Gaudino, Alberti, & Iaia,
2014; Scott, et al., 2013).

However, some studies questioned the value of measuring ACC and DEC actions by comparing relationships
between internal TL and ACC-based methods. Gomez-Piriz et al. (2011) reported that s-RPE was a
significant predictor of TL according to results of a linear regression analysis (β = .23, p< .05), but found that
s-RPE only accounted for 5% of the variance in PL values in soccer players. They argued that the ACC-
based training load may not be a valid tool for coaches to quantify exercise load during soccer- specific
training. Moreover, Scanlan et al. (2014) reported only a moderate relationship (r = .49) between s-RPE and
PL in basketball players. A possible explanation for different results of the aforementioned studies compared
to our results is that while all field training was included in our study, just small-sided games and basketball
drills were monitored in these two studies. The small pitch where players performed more ACC and DEC
actions could have had a negative effect on correlation between s-RPE and heart rate-based methods and
ACC-based training load because of the intermittent nature of these training methods, where players meet
their energy demands predominantly through anaerobic sources (Bangsbo, 1994; Foster, 1998; Impellizzeri
et al., 2004). Therefore, coaches and sports science practitioners should take account of all external TL
together for comprehensive perspective on monitoring, especially in training performed on relatively small
pitches.

VOLUME -- | ISSUE - | 2020 | 9

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

CONCLUSION

According to our results, while s-RPE and both HR-based training load models show strong correlations with
the number of ACC and DEC actions and with TD, correlations with distances covered in high-speed zones
are less convincing. In any case, with the prevalence of the use of small-sided games in soccer training,
distance covered in different speed zones may not be a particularly relevant, since small pitches may not
allow players to reach high speeds for extended periods. In these circumstances, ACC-based methods could
be a good alternative for monitoring external training load. The most common ACC-based method is the
player load method that has been already validated, but this method requires a sophisticated equation in the
calculation process. Thus, measuring the number of ACC and DEC actions could be a good alternative to
this in monitoring soccer training. We argue that a combination of the internal and external load methods
seems to be the best way for monitoring training load in soccer players.

SUPPORTING AGENCIES

No funding agencies were reported by the author.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES

Abbott, W., Brickley, G., Smeeton, N. J., & Mills, S. (2018). Individualizing acceleration in english premier
league academy soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(12), 3503–
3510. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000002875
Alexandre, D., Silva, C. D. Da, Hill-Haas, S., Wong, D. P., Natali, A. J., De Lima, J. R. P., … Karim, C.
(2012, October). Heart ratemonitoring in soccer: Interest and limits during competitive match play
and training, practical application. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Vol. 26, pp. 2890–
2906. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182429ac7
Bangsbo, J. (1994). The physiology of soccer - With special reference to intense intermittent exercise.
Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, Supplement, 151(619), 1–155.
Barris, S., & Button, C. (2008). A review of vision-based motion analysis in sport. Sports Medicine, Vol.
38, pp. 1025–1043. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200838120-00006
Bartlett, J. D., O’Connor, F., Pitchford, N., Torres-Ronda, L., & Robertson, S. J. (2017). Relationships
between internal and external training load in team-sport athletes: Evidence for an individualized
approach. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 12(2), 230–234.
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2015-0791
Bourdon, P. C., Cardinale, M., Murray, A., Gastin, P., Kellmann, M., Varley, M. C., … Cable, N. T. (2017).
S2-161 Monitoring Athlete Training Loads: Consensus Statement. International Journal of Sports
Physiology and Performance, 12. https://doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.2017-0208
Boyd, L. J., Ball, K., & Aughey, R. J. (2013). Quantifying external load in australian football matches and
training using accelerometers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 8(1), 44–
51. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.8.1.44
Bradley, P. S., Di Mascio, M., Peart, D., Olsen, P., & Sheldon, B. (2010). High-intensity activity profiles
of elite soccer players at different performance levels. Journal of Strength and Conditioning
Research, 24(9), 2343–2351. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181aeb1b3

10 | 2020 | ISSUE - | VOLUME -- © 2020 University of Alicante

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

Casamichana, D., Castellano, J., Calleja-Gonzalez, J., RomaN, J. S., & Castagna, C. (2013).
Relationship between indicators of training load in soccer players. Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research, 27(2), 369–374. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182548af1
Castillo, D., Weston, M., McLaren, S. J., Cámara, J., & Yanci, J. (2017). Relationships between internal
and external match-load indicators in soccer match officials. International Journal of Sports
Physiology and Performance, 12(7), 922–927. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2016-0392
Clarke, N., Farthing, J. P., Norris, S. R., Arnold, B. E., & Lanovaz, J. L. (2013). Quantification of training
load in Canadian football: Application of session-RPE in collision-based team sports. Journal of
Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(8), 2198–2205.
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827e1334
Dalen, T., JØrgen, I., Gertjan, E., Havard, H. G., & Ulrik, W. (2016). Player load, acceleration, and
deceleration during forty-five competitive matches of elite soccer. Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research, 30(2), 351–359. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001063
Foster, C. (1998). Monitoring training in athletes with reference to overtraining syndrome. In Med. Sci.
Sports Exerc (Vol. 30).
Foster, C., Florhaug, J. A., Franklin, J., Gottschall, L., Hrovatin, L. A., Parker, S., … Dodge, C. (2001). A
New Approach to Monitoring Exercise Training. In Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
(Vol. 15). https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-200102000-00019
Gaudino, P., Alberti, G., & Iaia, F. M. (2014). Estimated metabolic and mechanical demands during
different small-sided games in elite soccer players. Human Movement Science, 36, 123–133.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2014.05.006
Gomez-Piriz, P. T., JiméNez-Reyes, P., & Ruiz-Ruiz, C. (2011). Relation between total body load and
session rating of perceived exertion in professional soccer players. Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research, 25(8), 2100–2103. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181fb4587
Güvenç, A., Açikada, C., Aslan, A., & Özer, K. (2011). Daily physical activity and physical fitness in 11-
to 15-year-old trained and untrained Turkish boys. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 10(3),
502–514.
Halson, S. L. (2014, November 1). Monitoring Training Load to Understand Fatigue in Athletes. Sports
Medicine, Vol. 44, pp. 139–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0253-z
Hopkins, W. G., Marshall, S. W., Batterham, A. M., & Hanin, J. (2009, January). Progressive statistics for
studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Vol.
41, pp. 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e31818cb278
Ian Lambert, M., & Borresen, J. (2010, September). Measuring training load in sports. International
Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, Vol. 5, pp. 406–411.
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.5.3.406
Impellizzeri, F. M., Rampinini, E., Coutts, A. J., Sassi, A., & Marcora, S. M. (2004). Use of RPE-based
training load in soccer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(6), 1042–1047.
https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000128199.23901.2F
Lupo, C., Tessitore, A., Gasperi, L., & Gomez, M. A. R. (2017). Session-RPE for quantifying the load of
different youth basketball training sessions. Biology of Sport, 34(1), 11–17.
https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2017.63381
Manzi, V., D’ottavio, S., Impellizzeri, F. M., Chaouachi, A., Chamari, K., & Castagna, C. (2010). Profile
of weekly training load in elite male professional basketball players. Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research, 24(5), 1399–1406. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d7552a
McLaren, S. J., Smith, A., Spears, I. R., & Weston, M. (2017). A detailed quantification of differential
ratings of perceived exertion during team-sport training. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport,
20(3), 290–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.06.011

VOLUME -- | ISSUE - | 2020 | 11

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

Mohr, M., Krustrup, P., & Bangsbo, J. (2003). Match performance of high-standard soccer players with
special reference to development of fatigue. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21(7), 519–528.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0264041031000071182
Morgan, W. P. (1973). Psychological factors influencing perceived exertion. Medicine and Science in
Sports, 5(2), 97–103. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-197300520-00019
Osgnach, C., Poser, S., Bernardini, R., Rinaldo, R., & Di Prampero, P. E. (2010). Energy cost and
metabolic power in elite soccer: A new match analysis approach. Medicine and Science in Sports
and Exercise, 42(1), 170–178. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181ae5cfd
Paulson, T. A. W., Mason, B., Rhodes, J., & Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (2015). Individualized Internal and
External Training Load Relationships in Elite Wheelchair Rugby Players. Frontiers in Physiology, 6.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2015.00388
Scanlan, A. T., Wen, N., Tucker, P. S., Borges, N. R., & Dalbo, V. J. (2014). Training mode’s influence
on the relationships between training-load models during basketball conditioning. International
Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9(5), 851–856. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-
0410
Scanlan, A. T., Wen, N., Tucker, P. S., & Dalbo, V. J. (2014). The relationships between internal and
external training load models during basketball training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning
Research, 28(9), 2397–2405. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000458
Schwellnus, M., Soligard, T., Alonso, J. M., Bahr, R., Clarsen, B., Dijkstra, H. P., … Engebretsen, L.
(2016). How much is too much? (Part 2) International Olympic Committee consensus statement on
load in sport and risk of illness. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(17), 1043–1052.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096572
Scott, B. R., Lockie, R. G., Knight, T. J., Clark, A. C., & Janse De Jonge, X. A. K. (2013). A Comparison
of Methods to Quantify the In-Season Training Load of Professional Soccer Players. In International
Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.8.2.195
Scott, T. J., Black, C. R., Quinn, J., & Coutts, A. J. (2013). Validity and reliability of the session-rpe
method forquantifying training in australian football: A comparison of the cr10 and cr100 scales.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(1), 270–276.
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182541d2e
Singh, F., Foster, C., Tod, D., & McGuigan, M. R. (2007). Monitoring different types of resistance training
using session rating of perceived exertion. International Journal of Sports Physiology and
Performance, 2(1), 34–45. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2.1.34
Soligard, T., Schwellnus, M., Alonso, J. M., Bahr, R., Clarsen, B., Dijkstra, H. P., … Engebretsen, L.
(2016). How much is too much? (Part 1) International Olympic Committee consensus statement on
load in sport and risk of injury. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(17), 1030–1041.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096581
Varley, M. C., & Aughey, R. J. (2013). Acceleration profiles in elite Australian soccer. International Journal
of Sports Medicine, 34(1), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1316315
Vázquez-Guerrero, J., Suarez-Arrones, L., Gómez, D. C., & Rodas, G. (2018). Comparing external total
load, acceleration and deceleration outputs in elite basketball players across positions during match
play. Kinesiology, 50(2), 228–234. https://doi.org/10.26582/K.50.2.11
Wallace, L. K., Slattery, K. M., & Coutts, A. J. (2014). A comparison of methods for quantifying training
load: Relationships between modelled and actual training responses. European Journal of Applied
Physiology, 114(1), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2745-1

12 | 2020 | ISSUE - | VOLUME -- © 2020 University of Alicante

Alemdaroğlu, U. / Relationships among different training load methods JOURNAL OF HUMAN SPORT & EXERCISE

This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
VOLUME -- | ISSUE - | 2020 | 13