Search

Purpose: This cohort study aimed to investigate the relationship between subjective (wellness and internal training load [ITL]) and objective (neuromuscular fatigue) monitoring markers and performance aspects (reception quality [RQ] and attack efficiency [AE]) in professional female volleyball players. Methods: The study was conducted over an 8-week period during the final mesocycle of the competitive phase. A total of 24 training sessions and 10 matches were included in the analysis. Subjective measures of wellness and ITL were assessed, and neuromuscular fatigue was evaluated using countermovement-jump (CMJ) height. RQ and AE were determined based on game statistics. Results: The study found a positive relationship between wellness and RQ, particularly affecting outside hitters and liberos. ITL showed a positive association with AE, primarily impacting outside hitters, opposite hitters, and middle blockers. Additionally, ITL demonstrated a negative correlation with RQ, mainly affecting outside hitters and liberos. CMJ performance was associated with AE, where a decrease in CMJ height was linked to reduced AE. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of considering players' wellness scores in training and match strategies for different positions. Careful management of training loads, considering both physical and technical demands, is crucial for optimizing performance outcomes. Monitoring neuromuscular fatigue, as indicated by CMJ performance, is particularly relevant for outside hitters, opposite hitters, and middle blockers involved in attack actions. Coaches, trainers, and sports practitioners can use these insights to develop position-specific training protocols and implement effective strategies for maintaining or improving performance metrics under various stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The monitoring of training loads and quantification of physical performance are common practices in youth soccer academies to support coaches in prescribing and programming training for individuals. The interaction between training load and physical performance is unknown during a preseason period in youth soccer players. The current study assessed changes in training load and physical assessments across a 4-week preseason period. The relationship between physical performance and match playing time in youth male soccer players was also investigated. Methods: The training loads of 25 professional youth academy male soccer players were monitored throughout a 4-week preseason period. Assessments of power, agility, speed, and aerobic capacity were undertaken in the first training session. Session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE) and well-being questionnaires were collected during all training sessions and preseason matches. Playing time during subsequent competitive matches was recorded. Results: T test and 30-m-sprint assessments, conducted on the first day of preseason, were predictors of sRPE throughout preseason (t test χ2/df = 2.895, poor adjustment; 30-m sprint χ2/df = 1.608, good adjustment). YoYo Test performance was related with changes in perceived fatigue (χ2/df = 0.534, very good adjustment). Faster players reported higher values of sRPE, and players with higher aerobic capacity reported higher levels of fatigue across preseason. Well-being, perceived fatigue and soreness, and sRPE decreased across preseason. Greater match durations were related to higher levels of fatigue during preseason (P <.05). Conclusion: The current study highlights the relationship between training load, physical assessments, and playing time. Coaches and practitioners can use physical test data at the start of preseason as an indication of players that report higher sRPE, perceived fatigue, and reduced well-being across preseason, supporting decisions around individualized training prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Most high-intensity bouts of exercise in volleyball consist of jumping activities, which are responsible for inducing muscle damage, high levels of fatigue, and muscle soreness. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to quantify and analyze the training loads, neuromuscular fatigue, and perceptual well-being of a 5-week in-season mesocycle carried out by a professional male volleyball team. Methods: Fifteen volleyball players (age 28.51 [5.39] y; height 193.19 [9.87] cm; body mass 88.46 [13.18] kg) participated in this study. Internal training load assessed through the rating of perceived exertion, external training load (ETL; evaluated using an inertial motion unit), countermovement jump (CMJ) height and peak power, and wellness questionnaire responses were obtained from all athletes. Results: Results indicated a progressive decrease of the internal training load during the week and by the undulatory pattern of the ETL during the microcycles. Moreover, training monotony increased across the microcycles and was negatively associated with CMJ peak power (r = −.681, P <.05). Finally, sleep quality (ρ = −.747, P <.01) and fatigue (ρ = −.789, P <.01) were negatively associated with weekly ETL. Conclusions: This study indicated that sleep quality and fatigue were negatively associated with weekly ETL. Therefore, decreases in weekly ETL might be needed to improve sleep quality and decrease fatigue in professional volleyball players. Plus, higher values of training monotony were associated with lower values of CMJ peak power. Consequently, avoiding training monotony might be important to improve jumping performance in professional volleyball athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Jump test assessment is commonly used for physical tests, with different type of devices used for its evaluation. The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity and reliability of a freely accessible mobile application (VertVision, version 2.0.5) for measuring jump performance. Methods: With that intent, thirty-eight college age recreationally active subjects underwent test assessment after a specific warm-up, performing countermovement jumps (CMJs) and squat jumps (SJs) on a contact platform while being recorded with a smartphone camera. Jump height was the criterion variable, with the same formula being used for both methods. Data analysis was performed by two experienced observers. Results: The results showed strong correlations with the contact platform (ICC > 0.9) for both jumps. Furthermore, between-observer reliability was also high (ICC > 0.9; CV ≤ 2.19), with lower values for smallest worthwhile change (≤0.23) and typical error of measurement (≤0.14). Estimation error varied when accounting for both observers, with the SJ accounting for bigger differences (4.1–6.03%), when compared to the CMJ (0.73–3.09%). Conclusions: The study suggests that VertVision is a suitable and handy method for evaluating jump performance. However, it presents a slight estimation error when compared to the contact platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of the present study was to analyse the within-week variations according to the internal (rate of perceived exertion [RPE], and session-RPE) and external (jump height average, minimum jump, maximal jump, range of jump, number of jumps and density) intensity. Methods. Twelve male elite/international volleyball athletes from the Portuguese 1st division (age: 21.7 ± 4.19 years of age; experience: 6.2 ± 3.8 years; body mass: 85.7 ± 8.69 kg; height: 192.4 ± 6.25 cm; body mass index: 23.1 ± 1.40 kg/m2) participated in this study. The players were monitored over 26 microcycles, 101 training sessions, and 20 matches. To assess the workload, the CR10 Borg scale and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) were used. Results. According to the internal workload, RPE revealed significant differences between MD-4 and MD-2, MD-4 and MD1, MD-3 and MD-1, and MD-2 and MD-1 (p < 0.05). In the same line, session RPE showed significant differences between MD-4 and MD-2, MD-4 and MD-1, MD-3 and MD-2, MD-3 and MD-1, and MD-2 and MD-1 (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the external load demands revealed statistical differences regarding the number of jumps (MD-4 and MD-2, MD-4 and MD-1, MD-3 and MD-1, and MD-2 and MD-1) and the density of the training sessions (MD-4 and MD-1, and MD-2 and MD-1). Conclusions. The primary findings of this study suggest that higher-intensity training sessions tend to occur during the middle of the week, with a tapering effect observed as the competition date approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Applied Economics / Economía Aplicada is the property of FEA-RP, Universidade de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)