calculate-training-load
Calculate Training Load
Quantify the physical stress of training sessions using validated methods to guide load management and reduce injury risk.
Why This Is Best Practice
Adopted by: English Premier League, AFL, NRL, NBA, USA Cycling, elite rugby unions; standard in high-performance sport departments worldwide Impact: Gabbett (2020) showed maintaining acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) between 0.8-1.3 reduces injury risk by 20-40% vs. unmanaged spikes; Foster et al. (2001) validated session-RPE as ≥85% correlated with HR-based methods Why best: Without objective load quantification, training spikes go undetected; ACWR bridges the gap between what was planned and what the body actually experienced
Sources: Foster et al. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2001); Borresen & Lambert Sports Medicine (2009); Gabbett BJSM (2020)
Steps
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Choose a load metric — Select session-RPE (simplest, validated for most sports), GPS-based PlayerLoad/distance, HR-based TRIMP, or sport-specific volume metrics (km for running, tonnes for weightlifting).
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Calculate session load (session-RPE method) — Collect RPE on CR-10 or modified Borg scale 30 minutes after each session. Session Load = RPE × Duration (minutes). Example: RPE 6 × 60 min = 360 arbitrary units (AU).
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Sum weekly acute load — Add all session loads within the past 7 days to get Acute Load (AL).