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SUBJECTIVE TRAINING LOAD MONITORING
Training load refers to the ability of an individual to meet the expectations required by
the activity over a period of time. Maughan et al. (2022) describes training load as “an input
variable that can be manipulated to elicit a desired athletic response.” In other words, the amount
of required exertion can be manipulated in order to achieve specific goals. Training load is a
relevant topic in athletics but also when training in a gym, and monitoring training load is
especially currently a topic of discussion. Coyne et al. (2018) determined in their study to review
and provide commentary on the present training load monitoring capabilities.
The goal of monitoring training load is largely associated with injury prevention;
however, Coyne et al. (2018) asserts that this method and ACWR do an inadequate job of
predicting injury. The authors go on to explain that monitoring training load can be challenging
due to the effect psychosocial/cognitive factors have on an individual (Coyne et al., 2018). These
factors include mental fatigue, effort, stress, and motivation, which play a huge role in
determining training load; however, TL does not seem to account for such factors currently. The
authors continue on to suggest that there seems to be a different in open and closed skill sports
when it comes to the mental component of an activity (Coyne et al., 2018). Open skill sports
seem to have a greater risk of injury, whereas closed skill sports appear to have less injury risks
(Coyne et al., 2018). The article proceeds to reason that subjective assessments may assist in
evaluating the effectiveness of TL monitoring methods (Coyne et al., 2018). When utilizing
internal and external TL monitoring methods, one should make comparisons with a variety of
variables in order to properly understand TL-I and TL-P (Coyne et al., 2018). When determining
TL methods, one should also examine the demands of the sport/activity to ensure that the
measures match the requirements or are at least comparable.
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SUBJECTIVE TRAINING LOAD MONITORING
After highlighting the importance of psychosocial factors and examining current updates
to periodization theory, the authors then note the limitations and potential solutions to subjective
training load monitoring. One such limitation is that of sRPE may provide a better depiction of
the overall load for the athlete, but it lacks the inclusion of physiological and biomechanical
loads (Coyne et al., 2018). Furthermore, one must consider the potentials for faults on both the
side of the practitioner as well as the athlete. Athletes must answer honestly, and practitioners
must be educated properly on administering sRPE. In addition to these limitations, the actual
calculations themselves may contribute some errors (Coyne et al., 2018). Overall, this study
acted as a call for action on the part of researchers. The authors desire that researchers find a
more accurate method that takes physical components as well as mental components into
consideration. After this call for action in 2018, Coyne et al. went on in 2022 to complete a study
that examined for effective measures for subjective training load monitoring. The authors
suggested that the devices are accurate, the athletes are aware of the importance of responding
accurately, the practitioners are properly trained on administering these measures, and that TL
monitoring should be based on valid measures (Coyne et al., 2022). The authors still end with a
call to action for even more research in the future to develop a conceptual model (Coyne et al.,
2022).
After reading the article, I was intrigued by the idea of monitoring the mental load paired
with monitoring physical load. I understand that mental capabilities play a large role in
determining training load. Trainers often say that your mind quits before your body quits. Stress
and anxiety can play a huge role in training load, which is why these factors need to be
considered. Even though Philippians 4:6-7 warns us against anxiousness, as humans we do
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SUBJECTIVE TRAINING LOAD MONITORING
References
Bible Gateway passage: Philippians 4:6-7 - New King James Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway.
Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://www.biblegateway.com
Coyne, J. O. C., Coutts, A. J., Newton, R. U., & Haff, G. G. (2022). The current state of
subjective training load monitoring: Follow-Up and future directions. Sports
Medicine - Open, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00433-y
Coyne, J. O. C., Gregory Haff, G., Coutts, A. J., Newton, R. U., & Nimphius, S. (2018). The
current state of subjective training load monitoring—a practical perspective and call to
action. Sports Medicine - Open, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-018-0172-x
Maughan, P. C., MacFarlane, N. G., Towlson, C., Barrett, S., & Swinton, P. A. (2022). Does
transforming subjective measures of load better represent training and match-play
intensity in youth soccer players? International Journal of Sports Science &
Coaching, 18(5), 1541–1549. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221114739
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