Within-player associations between GPS-derived external training load and heart rate-based internal training load in elite youth male soccer training
- 1Training Theory and Methodology Research Center, Hungarian University of Sports Science, Budapest, Hungary
- 2Department of Sports Medicine and Digital Health, Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, University of Győr, Győr, Hungary
- 3Scientific Research Centre of the Hungarian Defence Forces, Transformation Command, Budapest, Hungary
Abstract
Objectives: This study examined within-player associations between GPS-derived external training load variables and heart rate-based internal training load during in-season training in elite youth soccer players. A secondary aim was to identify which intensity-based external load variables are independently associated with heart rate (HR) exertion per minute. Methods: Eleven under-17 male soccer players were monitored across a nine-week in-season period. 266 player-session observations were included. External training load was assessed using GPS units with integrated inertial sensors, including total distance covered, high-speed running distance, explosive efforts, player load, and their time-normalized derivatives. Internal training load was quantified using heart rate exertion derived from individualized HR zones. Within-player associations were examined using repeated-measures correlations. A linear mixed-effects model was used to examine predictors of heart rate exertion per minute. Results: HR exertion showed nearly perfect within-player associations with total distance covered (r = 0.921, p < 0.001) and PlayerLoadTM (r = 0.924, p < 0.001), while large associations were observed for high-speed running distance (r = 0.662, p < 0.001) and explosive efforts (r = 0.621, p < 0.001). Intensity-based variables, including total distance covered per minute and explosive efforts per minute, were significant positive predictors of HR exertion·min − ¹. Conclusions: In elite under-17 youth soccer training, cumulative HR exertion primarily reflects accumulated external training volume, whereas HR exertion·min − ¹ is more closely related to locomotor and explosive action intensity. These findings highlight the need to interpret cumulative and intensity-based internal training load metrics separately in within-player training monitoring.
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BibTeX
@article{havanecz2026withinplayer,
title = {{Within-player associations between GPS-derived external training load and heart rate-based internal training load in elite youth male soccer training}},
author = {Krisztián Havanecz and Tímea Téglás and Leonidas Petridis},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0357176},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357176},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Within-player associations between GPS-derived external training load and heart rate-based internal training load in elite youth male soccer training
AU - Krisztián Havanecz
AU - Tímea Téglás
AU - Leonidas Petridis
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/11
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0357176
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357176
AB - Objectives: This study examined within-player associations between GPS-derived external training load variables and heart rate-based internal training load during in-season training in elite youth soccer players. A secondary aim was to identify which intensity-based external load variables are independently associated with heart rate (HR) exertion per minute. Methods: Eleven under-17 male soccer players were monitored across a nine-week in-season period. 266 player-session observations were included. External training load was assessed using GPS units with integrated inertial sensors, including total distance covered, high-speed running distance, explosive efforts, player load, and their time-normalized derivatives. Internal training load was quantified using heart rate exertion derived from individualized HR zones. Within-player associations were examined using repeated-measures correlations. A linear mixed-effects model was used to examine predictors of heart rate exertion per minute. Results: HR exertion showed nearly perfect within-player associations with total distance covered (r = 0.921, p < 0.001) and PlayerLoadTM (r = 0.924, p < 0.001), while large associations were observed for high-speed running distance (r = 0.662, p < 0.001) and explosive efforts (r = 0.621, p < 0.001). Intensity-based variables, including total distance covered per minute and explosive efforts per minute, were significant positive predictors of HR exertion·min − ¹. Conclusions: In elite under-17 youth soccer training, cumulative HR exertion primarily reflects accumulated external training volume, whereas HR exertion·min − ¹ is more closely related to locomotor and explosive action intensity. These findings highlight the need to interpret cumulative and intensity-based internal training load metrics separately in within-player training monitoring.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -