Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). A powerful tool for monitoring training load or not? In this blog post we explain RPE, the various methods in which it can be used for monitoring and how it can help you optimise players’ readiness to perform.
Monitoring the training process in team sports From description to prescription: Part 7 The American Nobel Prize winner Herbert Simon formulated three major goals for scientists: Basic science: Knowing what happened (descriptive analysis) and understanding why this happened (diagnostic analysis) Applied science: Inferring or predicting what will happen (predictive analysis) Science as art: Converting complex…
Monitoring the training process in team sportFrom description to prescription: Part 6 In our previous two blog posts, we described the relation between load and performance. In addition, several tools were discussed to monitor this relationship in practice (link to blog, link to blog 2). It is important to emphasize that the first step to…
Monitoring the training process in team sportFrom description to prescription: Part 5 After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, (inter)national football associations will strive to complete the 2019-2020 season in the next few months. Because the 2020-2021 season is already on its way, a high number of matches over a short period of time can…
Monitoring the training process in team sportFrom description to prescription: Part 4 In the previous blog post (link to blog), the relationship between load and performance was explained using the fitness-fatigue model of Banister et al. (1975). We discussed the benefits of performance modelling based on the balance between fitness and fatigue responses to training.…
Monitoring the training process in team sports From description to prescription: Part 3 Athletes train to improve their performance, thereby exposing themselves to physiological, biomechanical and psychological loads. These loads need to be periodised carefully to achieve the desired performance at the right time. While individual athletes often peak to a short(er) competition period, team…
Monitoring the training process in team sports From description to prescription: Part 2 In our previous blog post, we discussed the first stage of the monitoring process, description. Here, we focused on systematic data collection using different tools to describe the training process according to the framework of Impellizzeri and colleagues (2019). Although the proper…
Topsportslab / Willem II Surviving The Eredivisie on € 2.5M staff budget Situation Founded in 1896, named after the King, Willem II has a rich history in the Dutch professional football leagues. Despite never winning the Eredivisie, the club finished runner-up and qualified for the Champions League in 1999. In 2013 Willem II started work…
Topsportslab / Olympique de Marseille Physical superiority in French Ligue 1 Situation Olympique de Marseille (OM) was founded in 1899. They are the most successful French football team in history. OM have been French champion 10 times. In 1993, OM became the first French club to win the UEFA Championships League. In 1994, OM were…
Topsportslab / AZ Alkmaar Achieving financial and sporting success Situation Founded in 1967, AZ is well established as one of the Netherland’s premier football teams with a proud history of success in the Eredivisie and on the European stage. Despite enjoying a great 2008-09 season under the supervision of Louis van Gaal, subsequent changes in…