Abstract

Training load is the total physical training stimulus and should be monitored throughout a soccer season.  The purpose of this study was to observe the total training load incurred over the course of a Division III Women’s Soccer season and to determine whether it differed between high-minute players and low-minute players.    

This study involved retrospective analysis of archived monitoring data from a NCAA Division III women’s soccer team.  Twenty-four players were divided into groups based on their total playing time during competitive matches.  The cutoff was set at 720 minutes, which was half of the total game minutes during the season.  Thus, players that played more than 720 minutes were placed in the high-minute group and players that played less than 720 minutes were placed in the low-minute group.  

Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) a 1-10 scale was used to quantify training loads.  Players were asked to rate the difficulty of the training session (1=easy, 10=maximal).  Each individual player’s training load was calculated by multiplying RPE by duration (minutes) of training. 

 These data present support for the differences between overall workloads of high and low minute players.  Coaches should consider equalizing training loads for high and low minute players in order to maximize adaptations to training. This may be accomplished through higher practice training loads for low-minute players.