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.