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The scientific understanding of the physiological load during practices and competitions is quite limited. While sports coaches may be able to assess the stresses and cumulative fatigue of their players, these perceptions can be biased and inaccurate. Therefore, a need exists to develop a method of determining acute and cumulative loads throughout a sports season. The Training Impulse (TRIMP) method was devised for this purpose and has been recently revised by Stagno, et, al. (2007) for use with team sports. To compare TRIMP values for forwards and defensemen during ice hockey games on different sized rinks on consecutive days using the new team-based TRIMP formula. Our hypothesis was that TRIMP scores would be greater for the game on the larger ice surface as more area must be covered. The six participants (mean age: 15.7 + 0.5 years) were forwards and defensemen playing on a regionally elite male ice hockey team. Heart rates were collected by a heart rate system that records and saves the data within a chest strap. Two games played on consecutive days (on the 19th week of a 29 week season) on different sized ice rinks were monitored. Game 1 (G1) was played on a rink that measured 200 × 85 feet, while the rink for Game 2 (G2) measured 200 × 100 feet. Each game began with a twenty minute on-ice warm-up. During G1 the ice was resurfaced between all periods. During G2, a short break was taken between the 1st and 2nd periods and the ice was resurfaced between the 2nd and 3rd periods. The TRIMPs were calculated for warm-ups, resurfacing times and playing time. Data is presented for the total time period (from the warm-up to the end of the game) and for the game period (only while the game was in progress). Data are presented in table below: Our research hypothesis was based on the logic that playing on a larger ice surface would lead to greater TRIMPs. This was not found to be true. G1 produced greater TRIMPs and greater TRIMPs per minute than G2 even though the second game was on the larger ice surface. TRIMP values for G2 may have been lower as it was the second game within a 24 hour period. While the athletes are used to playing two or three games during a two-day weekend, the second game may have lower TRIMP values due to fatigue. Thus fatigue may influence TRIMPs more than rink size. Further analyses of other game weekends may indicate a trend. As there is now a heart rate monitoring system that will capture data without the need for an external data capturing module, it is now more feasible to obtain heart rate data from team sports such as hockey and soccer. Since the revised TRIMP formula only requires heart rate data, it can now be used by coaches to track physiological loads during practice sessions and competitions. For coaches and trainers that are concerned about unintended overreaching/overtraining, this method may be a beneficial component to add to their tracking system.Table No Caption Available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a season of competition training, programs change as a means of managing the cumulative stresses of training and performing. Managing this process can be difficult to accomplish in team sports where relative exercise intensity can be dependent on position and role on the team, and effort put forth during training and competition. Measuring exercise variables, such as heart rate, lactate threshold and rating of perceived exertion, are easier to obtain and control during individual training than team training sessions. Recent advances in heart rate monitoring technology have allowed heart rate monitors to be worn by teams during practices and competitions, without interference between belts. Also, equations have been developed to calculate training intensities, referred to as training impulses (TRIMPs) for team athletes. The TRIMP technique was recently modified by Stagno et al. (2007) for implementation during team sport activities. To determine TRIMP values of both practice and competition during a single week at the end of their season for elite youth hockey players. 5 forwards and 4 defenders (n = 9; mean age: 15.7 ± 0.5 years) served as the participants. Heart rates were monitored during an entire week at the end of the season (week 28 of 29) consisting of three practices [Monday (P1), Tuesday (P2), and Thursday (P3)] and three games [one on Saturday (G1) and two on Sunday (G2, G3)]. Games were played on 24 weekends during the 29 week season. Heart rate measurements were recorded during practices and games by coded heart rate monitors that stored the data in the strap. TRIMP values were calculated from the data for each practice and game using the modified TRIMP equation. Stagno et al. (2007) created five heart rates zones between 65-100% of maximal heart rate. Minutes spent in each zone are multiplied by a weighting factor corresponding to each zone. These values are summed to determine total TRIMP value for each event. Maximal heart rate for each participant was determined using the equation developed by Gellish et al. (2007). TRIMP Zones, Total TRIMPs and TRIMPs per minute values are presented below (mean ± SD): Each training session varied in time, Total TRIMPs and TRIMPs/ min. Games decreased in TRIMPs and TRIMPs/min with slight decreases in time. Even though TRIMPs/min data are similar between some practices and some games (P2 = G2;P3 = G1), onlyG3 and P3 are similar in Total TRIMPs. Therefore, this coach has managed the time of practices to evoke game-like intensities but not durations. The use of TRIMPs gives coaches an accurate look at the intensity of practices and games for team activities. At the end of the season, when athletes may be more fatigued, an objective method of determining physiological load (i.e. TRIMP equations) should help coaches assess and track athlete responses.Table 1. No Caption Available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]