BCCI ASCA Assignment – 3.
• Importance of Load Monitoring in cricket ?
• How can we use load monitoring to optimize player performance ?
• How can Load monitoring help identify potential injury risks in cricket
players ?
Importance of Load Monitoring in
Cricket
• What is Load Monitoring ?
Load monitoring is the process of tracking the physical and physiological demands placed on
athletes during training and competition. It helps in balancing workload, managing recovery, and
reducing the risk of injury, ensuring athletes perform at their optimal level.
• Importance of Load Monitoring in Cricket?
- Preventing Injuries
- Optimizing performance
- Managing recovery
- Long Term Athlete Development
Importance of Load Monitoring in
Cricket?
Preventing Injuries –
Overloading players without adequate recovery can lead to injury. Monitoring workload helps identify when a player is
at risk of injury, allowing adjustments to be made in training.
Optimizing Performance–
By managing load, coaches can ensure players are performing at their peak during matches. Tracking how
much a player can handle helps balance training intensity with recovery.
Recovery Management –
Monitoring post-match or post-training fatigue helps in tailoring recovery strategies, ensuring players are fresh
for upcoming matches.
Long Term Athlete Development –
Especially for younger players, load monitoring supports gradual development, preventing burnout or
overtraining at a young age.
How to use Load monitoring to
optimize performance ?
Track External and Internal Load
-External Load:
Physical output measured via GPS, accelerometers, or counting bowling deliveries, batting
sessions, and fielding intensity.
-Internal Load:
Rate of perceived exertion and physiological responses such as heart rate, muscle soreness,
or fatigue can be regularly monitored.
How to use Load monitoring to
optimize performance ?
• Practical applications of calculating External Load in Cricket –
During Strength and Conditioning Sessions metrics to Track –
- Total distance covered in conditioning session.
- Total High Speed running Distance and Number of Cods in a session.
- Total number of foot contacts in plyometric session
- Total Volume of weight lifted during the training session.
During Cricket Skill sessions metrics to Track –
- Number of deliveries bowled
- Duration of Batting or Fielding session
Gradual Progression – Increase load gradually by 10-20 percent to avoid sudden spikes in training.
Deload Week – Plan deload week accordingly so that the player is well recovered from the training cycle.
How to use Load monitoring to
optimize performance ?
• Practical applications of calculating Internal Load in Cricket –
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE): Subjective measure of effort (scale 1-10) to assess fatigue.
Heart Rate (RHR, HRV): Monitors physiological stress, conditioning, and recovery.
Muscle Soreness: Subjective ratings to track recovery and prevent injury risk.
Wellness & Mood: Daily reports on mood, stress, and soreness to detect early signs of fatigue.
Gradual Progression – Increase load gradually by 10-20 percent to avoid sudden spikes in training.
Deload Week – Plan deload week accordingly so that the player is well recovered from the training cycle.
Acute Chronic Workload Monitoring
The ACWR is a method used to compare an athlete’s acute workload (recent short-term load, typically 1 week) to their
chronic workload (long-term average workload, typically 4 weeks). It helps assess the balance between the player's recent
physical demands and their long-term capacity, ensuring they are neither under-trained nor over-trained.
• Acute Workload: The load a player has been exposed to over the past 7 days (short-term).
• Chronic Workload: The average load over the past 28 days (long-term).
• Ideal Ratios for Performance and Injury Prevention:
• Optimal ACWR Range: Ideally, the ratio should be between 0.8 to 1.3:
• 0.8-1.3: This range indicates a balanced workload where the player is prepared for the physical demands placed on
them, promoting peak performance while minimizing injury risk.
• Ratios Below 0.8: Suggests under-training, which can lead to reduced fitness, underperformance, and a lack of readiness
for competition.
• Ratios Above 1.5: Indicates overloading, where the recent workload is significantly higher than the long-term average,
leading to an increased risk of injury due to insufficient recovery.
How can load monitoring help
identify Potential Injury risk in
cricket players ?
Load monitoring helps identify injury risks by tracking both acute and chronic workloads, ensuring players do not
experience sudden spikes in activity. When a player’s acute workload (short-term) significantly exceeds their
chronic workload (long-term), they are at a higher risk of injury.
Example -
If a fast bowler has an acute workload of 40 overs bowled in one week but typically bowls 30 overs
per week (chronic workload over the past month), their ACWR would be 1.33. This is slightly above
the optimal range, indicating a slight risk of overload but still manageable. If the ratio were 1.6 or higher,
they would be at a much higher risk of injury.
THANK YOU
