title: An Examination of the Relationship Between Movement Demands and Rating of Perceived Exertion in Australian Footballers.
abstract: This study aimed to determine whether a relationship existed between movement demands, match events, and perceptual match load, as determined by rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in professional Australian footballers. The movement variables were collected between 1 and 22 times using global positioning system units from 21 players during the 2011 and 2012 Australian Football League seasons. A range of movement demands and match events were collected to obtain a complete insight into the physical demands and work rates of these athletes. These data were separated into the high-load (HL, ≥9) and low-load (LL, ≤8) RPE groups. A Mann-Whitney U-test, independent samples t-test, and effect sizes were used to determine whether any differences existed between the 2 groups and the size of the difference. The results revealed that the HL groups covered more distance, spent more time, and produced more efforts at the high deceleration zone (2.4-6.7%). Further, the HL group had more possessions and disposals of the football than the LL group (9.2-29.6%). The findings have highlighted the importance of monitoring accelerations, decelerations, and instantaneous power outputs to obtain a comprehensive insight into the physical demands placed on team sport athletes. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that training sessions should involve a focus on drills that are composed of both skill development and physical stimulus element.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; and 2Sydney Swans Football Club, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Watsford
authors.forename: Damien J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pine
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Spurrs
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D001315:Australia; D003654:Deceleration; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D010465:Perception; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*