Periodisation, Training Load and Metrics: Implementing a Holistic Approach

Periodisation concerns the training load we put on players. From a data perspective, we would use GPS tracking to monitor the player load on an individual scale.

What this does is we can analyse how hard they are working and this can give further implications behind the load behind the session.

In other words, if we suddenly have an intensive session, then we would use the data to regulate that intensity. We want to put players into a certain range of training load which should have been calculated previously by a needs analysis. Each range is different but we have a range based on TEM and SWC as the data will never be fully accurate.

Longitudinally, we can analyse player metrics over a meso-cycle to see whether their training load has increased and if a physiological adaptation has been enforced. This can be controlled with periodization as we gradually improve the training load over a period of time and avoid unessecary injuries as a result.

We can also longitudinally analyze player game time. If they are playing more, then they have to train less so they aren’t exerting too much energy.

Periodisation involves conditioning work and tactical incorporation. In other words, based on the plus-minus principle, we should never perform conditioning work within the 48 hours leading up to a game as this exerts too much energy.

Ideally, we want a recovery session beforehand after a game and this is followed up with conditioning work. The load is then gradually decreased to save energy and this allows a more tactical based view to come into effect and this optimizes the performance analysis department as well as some last minute assessments.

Conditioning work in a football specific way can be done with small-sided games and this can also impact psychology through the development of verbal to non-verbal communication between teams. This is also to promote specific footballing actions and this can be further developed with SAQ training.

Our energy systems can be further optimized through nutritional intake. This is essentially improving our metabolism for the football specific actions within the conditioning training as well as the other training as well.

In terms of data across the days within a micro-cycle, we would use data to analyze whether the training load based on the periodization principles is being adhered to. It can also dictate what kind of training works for the players and whether the players are performing to a suitable level both in response to the training itself and longitudinally.

We can also use cross-sectional analysis in order to create a mean value for the group and this can be specified to positions.

Longitudinal Analysis

With respect to tactical periodization, each player is essentially a singular variable. Each player should be at a suitable training load depending on their game time.

This is highly predominant in conditioning games. Conditioning games are small sided games preceded by an explosive warm up to replicate the actions that they perform within these games.

We would look longitudinally at an improvement. We want a 95% confidence interval because we will never get a perfect score. Therefore, we need to have an acceptable range of data analysis.

Small Sided Games

They are conditioning based skill games. We normally calculate exercise intensity based on HR, RPE and we can quantify velocity and accelerations.

HR is considered a valid indicator due to the relationship between HR and oxygen consumption via the cardiorespiratory system or the VO2max system.

HR can easily help us understand the intensity of the small sided games that we produce and therefore an understanding of what our conditioning is like.

Psychological aspects can also impact this. If we are finding it too intensive, we would start to take energy from the immediate anaerobic (or blood lactate system) and this will see the accumulation of lactic acid.

We use periodization within small sided games to delay the onset of the lactic acid system and produce a suitable oxygen consumption rate.

RPE can further influence the intensity and this can explain if there is anything else that is taxing the players away from HR.

Time motion analysis is a technological advancement to allow movement characteristics in conjunction with conditioning based exercises and small sided games.

This is normally done with a TEM of 3 to 5% which is a confidence interval of 95%.

As we know, intensity is always measurable through a player’s movement (quantifiable through accelerations and velocities) as well as their physiological and perceptual responses to training which is physical and psychological respectively.

This can be improved and regulated further through pitch size. Pitch size can always influence the intensity of SSG’s and this can be periodized.

This is the same with the number of players we play with. A floater is a suitable reference point and allowing that player to play at a lower load or someone who needs to play more.

It appears that floaters have a greater RPE and HR load. Floaters could be players who play less and need to demonstrate a higher workload.