Sport Science Poster: Between the Polar Team2 Training Load and Session-RPE Training Load as Methods of Monitoring Training and Games in NCAA Division 1 Male Soccer Players

The following is a poster presented at the 2011 Coaches and Sport Science College. At the bottom of the page, the complete version is displayed. More to come on this topic at the 2012 South East ACSM and 2012 National ACSM meetings.

A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE POLAR TEAM2 TRAINING LOAD AND SESSION-RPE TRAINING LOAD AS METHODS OF MONITORING TRAINING AND GAMES IN NCAA DIVISION 1 MALE SOCCER PLAYERS

Howard. S. Gray, Satoshi Mizuguchi, L. Scott Calabrese, Justin D. Meredith, Christopher J. MacDonald, Marco Cardinale, G. Gregory Haff, Michael W. Ramsey, Adam L. Sayers, and Michael H. Stone

Introduction

Quantifying training is an important step in the training process. Doing so means that training can be objectively analyzed, appropriate training loads identified, and suitable adjustments made in an attempt to improve performance and reduce the incidence of injury and illness (2).

Using Session-RPE Training Load (S-RPE TL) as a method of quantifying training has been investigated for a number of different training modalities and sports including speed skating, basketball, cycling, rugby league, soccer, and resistance training (3, 4, 6, 8, 10). Training loads and variation of loads, as quantified by the S-RPE TL method, has been related to incidence of illness (3) and injury (6). Additionally, comparisons have been made with heart rate (HR) based training loads, along with measures of volume and intensity in the weight room (8, 10).

Heart rate (HR) monitoring as a measure of training loads typically uses time spent in specific zones (based on % of HR max or HRR), multiplied by a coefficient points system. The Edwards method is an example of this (5).

The Polar Team2 Training Load (Team2 TL) is a new HR based form of quantifying training. When considering the use of a new measurement tool or system, it is important to investigate its validity. A comparison with a previously studied method, such as the S-RPE TL, is a step towards this.

Congratulations ETSU Women's Soccer

This weekend, the women's soccer team here at ETSU clinched a share for the Atlantic Sun regular season title (along with Florida Gulf Coast and Jacksonville). This is a tremendous achievement in it's own right, but especially impressive considering previous seasons and the fact that current head coach Adam Sayers only arrived here in the spring.

The team works extensively with the Center of Excellence. Sport science services are led by Chris MacDonald, with Ryan Alexander, Christian Carter, Mike Israetel, Joel Cowan, & Aaron Casey all assisting. Along with men's soccer, baseball, and volleyball, the women's soccer team is one of the teams that takes most advantage of the support sport science can bring.

The development of the team since the spring has been fantastic to see, and Coach Sayer's is right to point out that it is the "process" that has got them this success. Sport science is part of this process.

Congratulations again to the players and staff - more work lies ahead before the A-Sun tournament, hosted by Florida Gulf Coast in two weekends time. The winner of this will get an automatic berth to the NCAA national tournament.

Major League Soccer internship opportunity at Seattle Sounders FC

From David Tenney at Seattle Sounders FC (via facebook):

We will be have a full year, 2012 Sounders FC fitness coach internship position that we will be filling for next season. The position is with the MLS team, and you will interact and coach this group every day. This is a paid position, and you will be asked to participate in all activities with the 1st team for the entire year.

Applicant will be expected to possess most, if not all of the following background requirements:

- A minimum of an undergrad degree in an Exercise Science related degree, a Master's is preferred.

- A strong background in soccer as a player, coach, or fitness specialist.

- Past experience in the strength & conditioning and/or performance enhancement field.

- Past experience with FMS or similar movement assessments and corrective strategies.

- Currently residing in the US. Non-US citizens (students, etc.) must have the ability & documentation to live and work in the US for all of 2012. Our organization will not be able to provide any help or aid for Visa or work permit issues, as this is an intern position.

The job requirements for this internship will consist of:

- Work directly under the head fitness coach in MLS training sessions every day.

- Aiding the head fitness coach on a daily in collecting data from technologies such as OmegaWave, HR monitors, and/or GPS.

- Helping in setting up the training area (on field or in weight room) every day.

- Coordinating all post-training and competition nutrition recovery strategies.

- Working with selected injured players either in the weight room, or with sports-specific work on the field.

- Helping to administer corrective assessments & corrective exercise with selected athletes.

- Helping to administer team or individualized strength training programs during the week.

Job specifics:

- This position is a 30-40hr/week job, and there will be academy training opportunities beyond your internship with the 1st team.. The job will commence on/or about Jan. 1st, 2012. I will be taking applications -- you can e-mail me a resumé directly at DavidT@SoundersFC.com, or send me a PM note here. I hope to hear from candidates that have all of the background requirements -- an education in FMS, movement, & posture assessment is very important, as is some level of background in soccer since much of this job is on the training field, and not the weight room. Strength training in a team setting is also important. This is a position where you will coach, interact with these professional athletes on a daily basis, and learn how to utilize the newest technology in performance enhancement in soccer in this country. Our last two interns have relocated to the Seattle area for this opportunity, so this is a country-wide search.

Feel free to PM if you have further questions. I will be doing telephone interviews around November 1st, and think that there will be a very good pool of qualified applicant.

David Tenney

Head Fitness Coach

Seattle Sounders FC

Dave does a fantastic job up in Seattle and this represents a great chance for a hard-working applicant. Good luck to all applying!

Five years!

This weekend marks five years to the day since I last played a competitive game in any sport.

Playing one of my sports, New Hampshire (circa 2002)

Although this sounds like the start of a depressing post it really isn't. It seems like more than five years have passed - not because that time has gone slowly - more that I have experienced so much in that time. Since September 30th, 2011 I have garnered two degrees, worked for four different sporting organizations, and lived in four vastly contrasting places.