The Relationships Between Training-Load Models in 3 × 3 Basketball Games.

PURPOSE

To quantify the relationship between load models during official games of the novel 3 × 3 basketball sport.

METHODS

Forty-one adult male players were monitored across three 3 × 3 basketball official tournaments. Players wore Firstbeat Sports microsensors to quantify external (Movement Load) and internal physiological (summated-heart-rate-zones [SHRZ]) loads. Additionally, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were obtained after each game to calculate session RPE (sRPE) loads as internal perceived load. Repeated-measures correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationships between Movement Load and internal loads (SHRZ and sRPE), and between SHRZ and sRPE.

RESULTS

External load (Movement Load) and internal physiological load (SHRZ) had a very large correlation (r = .76, P < .001). External load was also largely correlated with internal perceived load (sRPE; r = .57, P < .001). The correlation between SHRZ and sRPE was moderate (r = .47, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

During 3 × 3 basketball games, large to very large relationships exist between external- and internal-load variables. This information allows practitioners to anticipate internal responses of players to games based on the external load imposed, thus optimizing training-load prescription strategies.