In-season microcycle quantification of professional women soccer players- External, internal and wellness measures – External, Internal and Wellness Measures

Although there is already some knowledge about the intensity in the women's football match, the

knowledge about training is still scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify external

(locomotor activity) and internal (psychophysiological) intensities, as well as the wellness profile

of the typical microcycle from professional female soccer players during the 2019/20 in-season.

Ten players (24.6 ± 2.3 years) from an elite Portuguese women soccer team participated in this

study. All variables were collected in 87 training session and 15 matches for analysis from the

2019-20 in-season. Global positioning variables such total distance, high-speed running,

acceleration, deceleration and player load were recorded as intensity while Rated Perceived

Exertion (RPE) and session-RPE were recorded as internal measures. The Hooper Index (HI)

was collected as a wellness parameter. The results showed that internal and external intensity

measures were greater in matches compared to trainings during the week (match day minus

[MD-], MD-5, MD-4, MD-2), p<0.05 with very large effect size (ES). In the same line, higher

internal and external intensity values were found in the beginning of the week while the lowest

values were found in MD-2 (p0.05). This study confirmed the highest intensity values during MD

and the lowest on the training session before the MD (MD-2). Moreover, higher training

intensities were found in the beginning of the training week sessions which were then reduced

when the MD came close. Wellness parameters showed no variation when compared to intensity

measures. This study confirmed the hypothesis regarding internal and external intensity but not

regarding wellness.