title: The Research Doesn't Always Apply: Practical Solutions to Evidence-Based Training-Load Monitoring in Elite Team Sports.
abstract: Research describing load-monitoring techniques for team sport is plentiful. Much of this research is conducted retrospectively and typically involves recreational or semielite teams. Load-monitoring research conducted on professional team sports is largely observational. Challenges exist for the practitioner in implementing peer-reviewed research into the applied setting. These challenges include match scheduling, player adherence, manager/coach buy-in, sport traditions, and staff availability. External-load monitoring often attracts questions surrounding technology reliability and validity, while internal-load monitoring makes some assumptions about player adherence, as well as having some uncertainty around the impact these measures have on player performance This commentary outlines examples of load-monitoring research, discusses the issues associated with the application of this research in an elite team-sport setting, and suggests practical adjustments to the existing research where necessary.
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Burgess
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D054874:Athletic Performance; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human; D012107:Research Design; D013177:Sports; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: field sports; monitoring; player readiness; tracking technology