Differences In Player Load Of Professional Basketball Players As A Function Of Distance To The Game Day During A Competitive Season

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of external training load (eTL), internal training load (iTL), and well-being status, during a regular season week with one game, and to examine the differential workloads of players depending on their distance from game day during a competitive season. Method: Subjects were 10 full-time professional basketball players (24.6 ± 4.9 years old; 204.2 ± 16.8 cm; 97.9 ± 10.4 kg). Workload was recorded and classified as total duration training and duration of full game during a competitive season. A wearable tracking system collected eTL via Player Load (PL) and Player Load per minute (PL/min). Training sessions were classified based on days before a match (four days before the match day = MD-4, MD-3, MD-2, and MD-1), and MD. Session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were used for iTL. In addition, the Hooper index (HI) was used for well-being. Results: A significant difference was found between MD-1 and MD workload, MD workload being the highest of all variables: RPE (p