EXAMINATION OF VOLUME AND INTENSITIES OF WEEKDAY PRACTICES AND COMPETITIVE GAMES IN COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

• Main Author: Lindon, Tyler
• Format: Others
• Published: UKnowledge 2017
• Subjects: GPS; American Football; Periodization; Volume; Intensities; Sports Sciences
• Online Access: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/khp_etds/46; https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=khp_etds

The aims of the present study were to characterize the typical volume (total distance) and intensities (high-speed distance > 75% of maximum speed for weekday practices, Monday through Friday and competitive games on Saturday; compare the daily practice volume and intensities to competitive games to determine if the targeted volume and intensities are achieved as part of the periodized strategies using GPS software; and examine the relationship among total distance, high-speed distance in the prediction of player-load . Thirty NCAA Division I Football players (187.9 ± 5.5 cm; 107.4 ± 24.6 kg) were monitored using GPS receivers with integrated accelerometers during the 13-week regular season during the 2016 season. Separate one-way repeated measures ANOVAs demonstrated that competitive game loads and intensity were significantly different than weekday practices (p-value ≤ 0.05). There were significant differences among weekday practices in terms of overall volume and intensities, however the overall training goals were not met. Stepwise linear regression revealed that total distance is a significant predictor of player load. The results of the present study indicated that total distance, but not high-speed distance, could best be used to describe and track the development of a periodization model for training in Division I Collegiate Football using GPS technologies.