Soccer Training Load Management Course

Learn how elite coaches apply training load planning and monitoring methods to maximise the fitness, freshness & performance of their players while decreasing the risk to injury.

The aim of the Soccer Load Management Certificate is to provide coaches at all levels of the game, with the knowledge, research, practical examples and specific training load methods that they can easily apply to their own team environment.

The course covers the following key areas of training load management:

1. Player testing & monitoring
2. Injury reduction strategies
3. Weekly training microcycles
4. Planning and performance strategies
5. External & internal load monitoring

The course is comprised of the following:

8 Training Load Lectures
16 Hours Study Time
Pre- & post-lecture reading references
Multiple-choice tests
Tutor Assessed Assignment
Certificate of Achievement

This online course has been developed with some of the most respected practitioners and academics within the game.

The focus of the course is as follows:

Highlighting the reasons we should monitor and assess training load in soccer
Introduction to the practical application of modern training load monitoring & assessment tools
Providing an understanding of the need to monitor players training load & minimize training ‘spikes’
Helping you to understand the balance between soccer related fitness, freshness & fatigue
Assisting in preparing players for the physical, technical & tactical demands in a safe, progressive
manner

Who is this course designed for?
This course has been designed for beginner to advanced level coaches who work at varying levels of the game from non-professional, semi-pro up to elite level.

How long is the course?
This is a 16 hour course providing elite level techniques and strategies that you can apply to your own team environment to improve the fitness and performance of your players.

Is my progress logged through the course?
After each lecture there is a short multiple-choice test designed to cement your learning. You can access your test results at anytime through your course progress area.

Can I stop/pause a presentation part way through?
Yes, the course is completely flexible. You can go back to a module at anytime and continue from where you left off.

Can I take the modules in any order?
No. The course follows a set structure that must be studied in numerical order. You can only access the next module once you have completed the previous module test.

What is the duration of the course?
You can access the course 24/7 for 6 months, which gives you plenty of time to complete the lectures, tests and assignment.

Will I get a certificate to show that I have passed the course?
Yes, you will receive a pass certificate provided you have attained the minimum pass grade of 75%.

If you have any further questions, please Contact Us.

Accredited by British Virgin Islands Football Association

This online course is fully accredited by the BVIFA & ensures the study hours will contribute to the achievement of a formal accreditation & BVIFA continued professional development.

The course will also be accepted towards the revalidation for the BVIFA-CONCACAF Level D-B courses.

Browse Lesson Plan

1. Soccer Player Testing & Monitoring

Delivered by Prof. Darren Paul

In this lecture you’ll explore soccer specific player testing & monitoring strategies based around real evidence. Then we’ll take a further look at coach & player considerations when it comes to monitoring, while considering the different monitoring & testing protocols possible.

2. Injury Reduction Strategies in Soccer

Delivered by Dr. Patrick Orme

In this lecture you’ll discover key injury reduction strategies used within professional soccer clubs. You will then understand the link between the physical stimulus required to keep players healthy and available to train, while learning key soccer process planning and scheduling.

3. Applications of Training Load Management

Delivered by Dr. Vasilios Kalaporthakos

In this lecture you’ll take a deeper look at the considerations and applications of training and monitoring in soccer along with the theoretical models surrounding training load management. By the end of this lecture, you will have a deeper understanding of the internal and external methods used to monitor training load in soccer players.

4. Weekly microcycle, planning & performance

Delivered by Dr. Dawid Golinski

In this lecture, we deep dive into the load monitoring methods used within the game. We will explore weekly training microcycles and specific soccer strategies for planning and performance. By the end of this lecture you will understand how you can model and implement them within your team.

5. External Load Monitoring in Soccer

Delivered by Dr. Xinji Ji

In the lecture, we will examine in detail, the role of external load monitoring processes in professional soccer. You will understand GPS tracking systems and how you can implement elite level processes within your own team environment.

6. Testing & Monitoring: Training & Games

Delivered by Dr. Berni Guerrero

Following this lecture you will understand the difference between testing and monitoring in soccer, while looking at the internal and external methodologies used by elite clubs. You’ll then explore the practical application of testing and monitoring and learn how you can implement it within your own team environment.

7. Soccer Specific Monitoring: Subjective Effort Assessment

Delivered by Dr. Dawid Golinski

This lecture further examines the subjective load analysis and discusses the RPE (Rate of Perceived Effort) assessment from a soccer specific process. We will discuss, in detail, the monitoring tools approach along with wellness monitoring and microcycle planning. During this lecture we will integrate some of the recent literature around the acute versus chronic workload principle.

8. Competitive Soccer Training Microcycle

Delivered by Dr. Adam Owen

This final course lecture brings the appliance of science into an applied setting with a detailed case study example in elite soccer. As the flow of the course concludes, we will examine soccer specific training load management within a high-performance setting & philosophy. We will also look at specific indicators of injury reduction and risk factors from a player and coach centred perspective.

Your Soccer Training Load Management Faculty

This Certificate in Soccer Training Load Management has been developed with some of the most respected coaches, sports scientists, physical specialists, practitioners and academics working within soccer

Prof. Darren Paul

Professor Darren Paul is a Sports Scientist and Physical Performance Coach who studied at the University of Copenhagen. Professor Paul specialises in coaching principles, physiology and strength and conditioning.

Dr. Patrick Orme

Dr. Patrick Orme is the Head of Fitness and Conditioning at Bristol City Football Club and former 1st team Sports Scientist for Liverpool Football Club. Dr. Orme is responsible for pitch based physical preparation and conditioning of the 1st team squad.

Dr. Vasilios Kalaporthakos

Dr. Vasilios Kalapotharakos studied at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Physical Education & Sport Science and former Sport Scientist at Panionios F.C. Dr. Kalapotharakos specialises in coaching principles, exercise physiology and strength training.

Dr. Dawid Golinski

Dr. Dawid Goliński is a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Korona Kielce Football club. Professor Dawid Goliński studied at the University of Physical Education in Wrocław and specializes in physical fitness diagnostic, physiology and testing & monitoring.

Dr. Xinji Ji

Dr. Xinji Ji is a Sports Science Manager (Asia) at Catapult. Dr. Ji studied at the University of Leuven and specialises in wearable technology and player tracking data applications in soccer.

Dr. Berni Guerrero

Dr. Berni Guerrero studied at the University of Granada and specialises in testing & monitoring, soccer endurance, training load management, specific-strength training; injury rehabilitation and ‘return to play’ process.

Dr. Adam Owen

Dr. Adam Owen studied at the University of Lyon and specialises in training methodology, session design and coaching principles. Dr. Owen is the Technical & Performance Director at Seattle Sounders FC. He has worked with everyone from Gareth Bale to Javier Mascherano.