Influence of match playing time and the length of the between-match microcycle in Spanish professional soccer players' perceived training load

Objectives: To analyse the weekly differentiated perceived training load (dRPE-TL) accumulated during the in-season competitive period by professional soccer players depending on: (1) their participation during the previous official match (i.e., ¿45 min; <45 min; 0 min) and (2) the length of the between-match microcycle (8, 7, and 6 days). Methods: Twenty-one Spanish Second Division professional soccer players (age = 26.7 ± 3.1 years; body height = 182.1 ± 4.5 cm; body mass = 76.6 ± 5.6 kg) participated in this study. Weekly dRPE-TL data were collected over a 16-week in-season period during the 2015±2016 season from August to December. After each session, players reported their rating of respiratory (sRPEres) and muscular (sRPEmus) perceived exertions (training load [TL] = sRPE·volume). Results: After the application of the mixed linear model, significant differences (P< 0.01) were only found in the differentiated perceived TL measured each week for the groups specified regarding match participation time. Conclusions: Previous match participation had a substantial effect on players' accumulated weekly TLs, with greater match participation associated with higher weekly loads regardless of compensatory training strategies. However, the length of the between-match microcycle during 1-match weeks had no effecton players¿ accumulated weekly workloads.