Load Management in FCBB Youth Academy - How to Improve Performance and Reduce Injury Risk
Injuries can be devastating. Especially if they put a next-gen player’s ascent on hold. The good news: if monitored and managed correctly, the impact of load can decrease tremendously. Sports Scientist Philipp Hartmannsgruber explains FC Bayern Basketball’s approach to managing load, reducing injury risk, and KINEXON’s role based on a four-month pilot project.
Author: Philipp Hartmannsgruber
It may sound counterintuitive. Yet, reducing load is not always the answer. Science indicates that managing load can be much more effective than simply reducing it. Training hard while being smart, for statistics demonstrate that many soft-tissue injuries occur after load spikes.
The reason is that the body had to sustain more load than it could. Neuromuscular fatigue and overuse kicked in, followed by the injury. The counter: progressive overload. Instead of exposing the body to a few sudden load spikes, coaches increase the load in small steps while alternating smaller spikes with periods of rest. That gives the body time to adapt and build a steady fundament against overload.
Data is the key to unlocking the potential of our youth players, and with objective insights, it is possible to provide evidence-based training for maximum performance and optimal workload. There is a lot we can learn from this for the future of talent development.
Preparing Young Athletes at FCBB Youth Academy to Shoulder Higher Chronic Workload
Consequently, a higher chronic workload leads to increased robustness and has become a significant overall goal at the FCBB Youth Academy. By constantly yet safely pushing towards higher loads, we strive to prepare the players for the most demanding phases of competition, so they get through peak loads without injury.
Data lays out an objective, reliable groundwork to build upon. With a comprehensive picture of a player’s workload in mind, combining training and game load is necessary using, for example, the following metrics:
- Player Load (PL)
- Player Load per Minute (PL/Min)
- Player Performance (PP)
- Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE): players rate the level of exertion themselves to give insights into their perception.
Want to learn more about KINEXON’s tracking systems?
Load management is one of the most difficult aspects of athletic coaching. Individualizing the load in a team is almost impossible. We always want to maximize the time players spend on the court, where they can take the next step. However, this also means that we have to ensure that they are physically able to go beyond their previous level and build up new performance capabilities during this time. The acute-chronic workload calculation helps to avoid crossing the line between the optimal time used (quantitatively, but above all qualitatively) and “too much” training. I found working with Philipp and the KINEXON system very exciting and promising for the future of intelligent training management in basketball!
A Practical Example: Load Management at FCBB
FCBB collects these metrics to help contrast acute and chronic workloads. That results in the Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR), which comprises a player’s fitness and fatigue and, in short, helps detect overload and prevent injuries. Taking an athlete’s workload within a week into account, Acute Workload hints at their fatigue level, while Chronic Workload focuses on the long-term load of four weeks (fitness).
Dividing the former relative to the latter results in the ACWR. The concept can identify changes in workload and fitness level and point toward a player being fatigued from overload. That makes it possible to reduce injury risk. Moreover, coaches can monitor ACWR daily, detecting any unwanted dips or spikes immediately, which may assist them in optimizing their training plan.
Science shows that, on the one hand, there is a sweet spot of optimal workload for players where injury risk is at its lowest. On the other, sudden and excessive load spikes provoke injuries. Once coaches can monitor their athletes’ ACWR, they can react immediately should one of them enter the so-called “danger zone”, where injury risk is at its highest.
What the coach sees:
These reports are a dream for every coach! You don’t have to worry about load control anymore and can fully concentrate on basketball.
Using Metrics to Manage Next-Gen Players’ Loads
With KINEXON, coaches receive over 180 of their players’ movements, including changes of direction, jumps, accelerations and decelarations. They then can set target values to prevent overload.
At the same time, using the data allows trainers to prepare their athletes for sport-specific average and maximal competition demands based on objective numbers. Additionally, they identify stimuli and see in what capacity they are necessary for their players and team to perform to their best.
For all of that to work, data needs to be as precise as possible – which is where KINEXON steps in with its ultra-accurate solutions, especially in the long run, as data should function as a tool to manage an athlete’s progression from youth into the senior team. Simply reducing load may not always be the perfect answer to achieve that.
More stories
What Data and Insights Does Connected Ball Technology Provide?
Author: Daniel Linke, PhD
Adidas recently announced that the official ball for EURO 2024 will use connected ball technology at the men’s and women’s UEFA EURO tournaments. It provides real-time data and insights on the position, motion, and status of the ball. But what data and insights does this provide? Let’s find out.
How Much Do KINEXON PERFORM GPS PRO Wearable Sensors Weigh?
One of the most important criteria for wearable sensors is that they should be lightweight and comfortable, while still providing the sports data analytics that coaches and trainers need. KINEXON PERFORM GPS Pro wearables fit the bill, but how light are they, really? Let’s find out.
What Volleyball Analytics Can Coaches Get from KINEXON PERFORM IMU?
More and more coaches and players are implementing volleyball analytics to help improve their game. And they’re using Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) to gain an edge. So, let’s explain what the IMU is, the metrics it provides, and which ones should matter most to volleyball coaches.
Savino Del Bene Scandicci Volleyball Selected as Third KINEXON and AWS Flagship Team
Savino Del Bene Scandicci is among Italy’s best women’s volleyball teams and competes on an international level, in the highest European competitions. Alongside other teams and clubs from different parts of the world in various sports like Florida State University, Viktoria Berlin and TSG Hoffenheim, the team is joining forces with KINEXON and AWS and embrace technology with clear goals in mind. Let’s dive in.
How Hockey Advanced Statistics Are Changing The Game On Every Level
In ice hockey, advanced statistics are an incredibly powerful tool. They can unlock the secrets of the sport. From the ability to track a player’s individual performance to developing team strategies, advanced stats can help teams make better decisions and gain a competitive edge. Let’s find out how.
Why Are KINEXON Sports Vests a Vital Part of Player Tracking?
In sports, advanced technologies are becoming increasingly instrumental in enhancing player performance and strategy. The introduction of sports vests has helped tremendously in the gathering of data. The reason? When equipped with a player tracking wearable sensor, sports vests make collecting sports performance data incredibly easy.
How Football Coaches Can Use Sports Performance Data to Peak During Bowl Season
As the bowl season draws near, the role of sports performance tracking technology becomes pivotal. For coaches, strategically balancing weekly training schedules and the demands of game day must be top-of-mind to secure the best opportunity to land a bid for a bowl game.
KINEXON Is Helping Teams to Introduce Cycle-Oriented Performance Training in Women’s Sports
When it comes to achieving peak performance in sports, the one-size-fits-all approach falls short. With the rise of individualized training regimens, a new area has emerged in women’s sports: performance and team training oriented on players’ menstrual cycle and well-being.
By leveraging the power of KINEXON sports analytics, teams are tapping into a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between the menstrual cycle, personal well-being and athletic prowess.
How Coaches Craft Game Plans from Basketball Shot Data and Performance Metrics
In the bygone era of basketball coaching, the responsibility of tracking and analyzing player statistics fell squarely on the shoulders of coaches. Assessing shot charts, dissecting practice drills, and developing game strategies were manual endeavors that required a keen eye and extensive time commitment.
Fast forward to today, where the marriage of performance tracking data and shot statistics can not only alleviate the burden on the coaching staff but also offer a profound, data-driven window into player performance.
Behind the Sports Tech: Why KINEXON’s Player Tracking Wearables Stand Out
KINEXON is known for its use in sports analytics by leveraging wearable sensors to collect data from athletes in real-time. Let’s break down the technology behind the sensors.
How Basketball Coaches Use Sports Performance Tracking Data Leading into Game Day
Earlier this year, we sat down with the University of Colorado’s Steve Englehart, Director of Sports Performance for Olympic Sports, to learn more about how he prepares for the Buffaloes men’s basketball season. His mindset about athlete performance and training methods has evolved with the development of sports performance tracking technology.
Here, we dive deeper into his experience using KINEXON’s PERFORM IMU solution to prepare his team to compete at the highest level for the 2023 – 24 college basketball season.
Florida State Basketball: Women’s Team Dribbles into the Future With KINEXON as the Next AWS Flagship Team
Helping to lead the charge with German lighthouse football club, Viktoria Berlin, Florida State University’s (FSU) Women’s Basketball program is the next flagship team to have joined forces with KINEXON and AWS, challenging the status quo for women athletes in professional and collegiate sports with cutting-edge sports technology – customized to women’s requirements.
What Types of Basketball Shots Can COMPETE Vision Improve?
From layups to three-pointers, the types of shots in basketball that players take continues to evolve. But now coaches can use KINEXON COMPETE Vision to analyze practice and game videos to help improve the shots their players take from anywhere on the floor. Here’s how.
KINEXON Sports Data Journalist Transforming The Handball Bundesliga Viewing Experience
Author: Dave Grendzynski
In the world of sports, a data-driven era is emerging, revealing untold stories beyond the on-field action. KINEXON is leading this transformation in Handball Bundesliga.
And at the heart of it is this season’s game-changing role: the sports data journalist, and Lara Kellermann’s impact in this innovative partnership.
Furman's Director of Basketball Performance, Matt Aldred, Joins KINEXON as an Ambassador
KINEXON is excited to announce the signing of Matt Aldred, Assistant Head Coach and Director of Basketball Performance, as a member of the KINEXON Ambassador Program.