Monitoring training load in U20 track and field junior athletes

• Autor(a) principal: Franceschi, Alberto
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10348/9180
• topic: training load; athletics; monitoring; neuromuscular readiness; wellness

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in training load, neuromuscular readiness, perceptual fatigue and competition performance in junior track and field athletes during an outdoor season. To fulfil this purpose, data from six athletes (age 17.5 ± 1.7 years; height 172.6 ± 9.9cm; body mass 62.1 ± 6.4kg) were collected from both training sessions and athletics competitions during a 16-week period, divided into a preparation (week 1 to 8) and a competitive period (week 9 to 16). Training load was computed through training diaries, the countermovement jump and the repeated jump test were executed on a weekly-basis, and perceptual fatigue measures were collected using a wellness questionnaire. At the end, a hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted to identify similarities and differences between the two periods. The results showed a substantial reduction in training load during the competitive phase. The countermovement jump and sleep quantity were associated with the best competition performance of the competitive season and indicated a positive development during the outdoor season. The others variables showed different patterns between athletes. This outcomes can be used as framework for implementing athlete monitoring system with young athletes involved in track and field sprint-power events.