Comparison of Internal and External Training Loads in Male and Female Collegiate Soccer Players During Practices vs. Games

McFadden, BA, Walker, AJ, Bozzini, BN, Sanders, DJ, and Arent, SM. Comparison of internal and external training loads in male and female collegiate soccer players during practices vs. games. J Strength Cond Res 34(4): 969–974, 2020—The purpose of this study was to compare the internal and external training loads (TLs) in men and women throughout a Division I soccer season during practices versus games. Players were evaluated during all practices and regulation game play using the Polar TeamPro system, utilizing Global Positioning Satellite technology and heart rate (HR) monitoring to determine TL, time spent in HR zones expressed as a percent of HRmax (HRZ1–Z5), calories expended per kilogram body mass (Kcal·kg−1), distance covered (DIS), sprints, average speed (SPDAVG), and distance covered in speed zones (DISZ1–Z5). During games, no significant differences were seen between men and women for TL, Kcal·kg−1, HRZ1–Z5, SPDAVG, DIS, DISZ1, DISZ3, and DISZ4. However, men accumulated a significantly greater number of sprints and DISZ5 (p
Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research