Training Load Monitoring

Monitoring the training load of athletes is essential for preventing the negative effects of excessive training, such as overtraining and injury. By quantifying the training load, coaches can optimize athletes' adaptation while minimising the risk of injury.

One common method is the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale, which provides a subjective measure of an athlete's internal load (Comyns and Hannon, 2018). After each training session, athletes are asked privately to rate how difficult they found the session using the RPE scale (Figure 4), to avoid potential bias. This RPE rating is then multiplied by the duration of the session (in minutes) to calculate a training load score. This simple yet effective method helps coaches monitor and adjust training to better suit each athlete's needs.

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology can also be used to monitor training load, provided these devices are available. GPS allows for the tracking of both training volume and intensity by measuring metrics such as total distance covered, high-speed running, sprint distance, and maximum speed.

To make these metrics more relevant to each athlete, relative speed thresholds can be applied. This individualised approach has been shown to offer valuable insights into an athlete's training load, helping to optimise performance while minimising the risk of overtraining (Halson, 2014).

Conclusion

Developing effective movement quality is essential for enhancing athletic performance and minimising the risk of injury, especially in sports like rugby. By emphasising fundamental movement skills, stability, locomotion, manipulation, and coordination, players can build a strong foundation that supports more complex and sport-specific movements. Additionally, implementing structured warm-ups, effective preparation techniques, and monitoring tools such as wellness questionnaires and training load assessments helps ensure that players are physically and mentally prepared for the demands of their sport. Coaches play a vital role in promoting these principles, ultimately leading to safer, more efficient training and better overall performance on the field.