The Impact of Environmental Conditions on Player Loads During Preseason Training Sessions in Women's Soccer Athletes
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Alexis B. Austin [2] ; Sean M. Collins ; Robert A. Huggins [1] ; Brittany A. Smith [2] ; Thomas G. Bowman [2]
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[1] University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
Town of Mansfield, Estados Unidos
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[2] Department of Athletic Training, University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Virginia
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- Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 35, Nº. 10, 2021, págs. 2775-2782
- Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
Our objective was to determine the impact of environmental conditions on player loads during preseason training sessions in women's soccer athletes. Eleven women's NCAA Division III soccer players (age = 20 +/- 1 year, height = 167.28 +/- 8.65 cm, body mass = 60.18 +/- 5.42 kg, V[Combining Dot Above]O2max = 43.70 +/- 3.95 ml[middle dot]kg-1[middle dot]min-1) volunteered to wear Global Positioning System (GPS) devices (Sports Performance Tracking, Melbourne, Australia) that provided measures of training session external intensity throughout all preseason practices (n = 15). We recorded wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT), session Rating of Perceived Exertion-Training Load (sRPE-TL), and [DELTA]BM during each preseason training session and set [alpha] <= 0.05. The combination of WBGT, sRPE-TL, and [DELTA]BM explained 34% of the variance in GPS-based intensity score (proprietary measure) (F3,153 = 26.25, p < 0.001). Wet-bulb globe temperature (t156 = -2.58, p = 0.01), sRPE (t156 = 8.24, p < 0.001), and [DELTA]BM (t156 = 2.39, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with intensity. The [DELTA]BM from prepractice (60.00 +/- 5.21 kg) to postpractice (59.61 +/- 5.10 kg) was statistically significant (p < 0.001); however, [DELTA]BM from the beginning of preseason (59.87 +/- 5.31 kg) to the end of preseason (59.91 +/- 5.58 kg) was not significant (p = 0.89). Despite relatively low to moderate environmental conditions, increases in WBGT were associated with reductions in GPS intensity and elevated internal load via sRPE-TL. Our findings support the association between exercise intensity and WBGT, internal load, and hydration status; thus, coaches and exercise scientists should take these factors into account when monitoring or interpreting intensity metrics. Furthermore, these findings support the continued use of environmental monitoring and hydration best-practice policies to limit exercise intensity in the heat so as to mitigate excessive heat stress.
