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RESEARCH PRODUCT

A subjective load monitoring profile: A case study on an elite woman`s football team

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ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to present a subjective load monitoring profile from two consecutive seasons from one Norwegian elite women’s football team. METHODS: One elite women’s football team (n=26) playing in the highest level in Norway was monitored for two consecutive seasons (2020 and 2021). Both seasons was divided in pre-season, in season part one (P1) and in-season part two (P2). Borg`s rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scaled 1-10 and duration of training was answered after each training/match. By multiplying RPE and duration, sessional rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) was used as a metric for training load. Wellness metrics answered before training/match based on Hooper Index to present training response and other stressors (fatigue, soreness, stress, sleep quality and mood) scaled 1-5. Sleep duration (h) and readiness scaled 1-10 was also included. RESULTS: There was a difference in both seasons in sRPE between pre-season and P1 (ES= 0.27 and 0.25) and P1 and P2 (ES= -0.26 and -0.22). There was a negative correlation in sRPE with readiness (p≤ 0.05) during all periods/seasons except pre-season in 2021. With fatigue and soreness (p≤ 0.05) during pre-season 2021 and P1 in both seasons. CONCLUSION: Training load during pre-season show typical patterns of periodization, whereas loads during in-season was more varied and tactically influenced. sRPE show associations with readiness, soreness and fatigue. Whereas a potential dose-response relationship between training load and wellness and within wellness metrics should be further investigated. KEY WORDS: Elite women’s football, periodization, load monitoring, sRPE, wellness