Edwards TL Method and D_SHI(M): Intensity Descriptors

Abstract The purpose of this study is to describe the intensity of training in response to internal and external load in professional football players during training sessions (199 sessions, 43 weeks) and official matches (32 official matches). Twenty-two male professional soccer players (n = 22) of the Italian national championship Primavera U-19 are involved in this study during the season 2014-2015 (mean ± DS: age 20 ± 11.8 years, height 181.0 ± 0.1 cm, weight 73.6 ± 6.6 Kg, BMI 23.0 ± 1.1 Kg / m²,% fat mass 9.3 ± 2.7%, sit and reach 47.0 ± 8.0cm, IR1 2575 ± 600m, Vo2max 58.1 ± 0.8 ml / Kg / min, HRmax 195 ± 4.7 bpm, High Blood Pressure 137 ± 10mmHg, Low Blood Pressure 69 ± 6mmHg; CMJ 39.5 ± 3.6cm; CMJb 47.0 ± 3.6cm; 20mt Sprint 3.05 ± 0.17s; C2OD Agility Test 7.59 ± 0.24s). The Edwards method (internal load analysis) of the 5 heart rate zones (Z1: 50-60% HRmax; Z2: 60-70% HRmax; Z3: 70-80% HRmax; Z4: 80-90% HRmax; Z5: 90-100% HRmax) allows you to check the distribution of work intensity throughout the entire training session and to check the percentage time at high intensity (90-95% HRmax) to generate specific cardiovascular adaptations at the aerobic level (High intensity aerobic training). By this method we can quantify in arbitrary units (A.U.)work produced during the day and week. Furthermore, with GPS technology (external load), we established statistically relationship among D_SHI (m) (> 16 Km / h) (High Intensity Speed Distance > 16Km/h) and Edwards TL Method to describe how internal and external load are related (R = 0.75). The statistical analysis showed that both are effective methods for describe high-intensity work for soccer player during training and game.