Training load and fitness monitoring in Czech football: coach practices and perspectives

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14510%2F25%3A00140576" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14510/25:00140576 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1513573/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1513573/full</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1513573" target="_blank" >10.3389/fspor.2025.1513573</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Training load and fitness monitoring in Czech football: coach practices and perspectives

Original language description

Introduction: The study aimed to describe the practices and perspectives of Czech football coaches regarding the monitoring of players’ training load and physical performance, with a focus on identifying key barriers and preferred sources of information. Methods: A total of 235 football coaches completed an online survey comprehending training load monitoring methods, physical performance assessments, barriers to implementation, and information sources. Results: Among respondents, 93.7% reported monitoring training load, with training diaries (70%) being the most utilized method for external load measures and heart rate (45%) for internal load. Despite this, 42.7% of coaches did not monitor internal load and 21.7% did not conduct physical fitness evaluations. The most frequently reported barrier was a lack of resources (74.5%), though elite-level coaches (52.8%) and strength and conditioning coaches (75%) identified human resources as their primary limitation. Across all levels, the Football Association was the preferred source of information (61.7%). Conclusion: The findings highlight the predominance of traditional monitoring practices among the Czech football coaches, alongside with notable gaps in internal load tracking and fitness evaluation. The resource constraints remain a major barrier. Practical recommendations include promoting economical monitoring tools, such as RPE, and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders to improved monitoring strategies. The Football Association's play a key role on support these efforts.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30306 - Sport and fitness sciences

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

ISSN

2624-9367

e-ISSN

2624-9367

Volume of the periodical

7

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1513573

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

10

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001420326000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85217871528