Psychobiological Changes during National Futsal Team Training Camps and Their Relationship with Training Load

Abstract

The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to analyze the within-week variations of heart rate, session-rated of perceived exertion (sRPE), total distance, distance in 8.0-11.99 km/h-1, recovery distance in 12.0-17.99 km/h-1, distance in >18.0 km/h-1, maximum speed, number of sprints, heart rate variability, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and fatigue during training camps of a national futsal team; and (2) to analyze the relationships between load and the well-being. Twenty-eight men from the Chinese Taipei U-20 national futsal team were analyzed. Comparisons of training days revealed that the total distance was significantly smaller on day 1 (d = -1.22) and day 6 (d = -1.95) than on day 3. The sRPE values were significantly lower on day 1 than days 4 (d = -1.53), 5 (d = -2.07), and 6 (d = -2.59). The relationships between training load and recovery parameters revealed moderate correlations between the DOMS and the sRPE recorded one (r = -0.321) and two days before training (r = -0.289). It is possible conclude that first day imposed a smaller external load and internal load, and that the internal load had a greater dependent relationship with reported DOMS and fatigue during the training camps.