Training Loads and Jump Performance of Volleyball Athletes during a Microcycle

The present study analyzed the behavior of internal loads through the session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) method and its monotony and strain indicators, as well as the external loads through vertical jump monitoring, during two training weeks of the preparatory phase of athletes from the Brazilian under-19 volleyball team. The sample consisted of 17 athletes (18.2 ± 0.4 years, 88.8 ± 11.7 kg and 198.5 ± 8.2 cm). During the period assessed, the first week consisted of five training days and one recovery day, and the second week consisted of four training days and three recovery days. Daily training loads (TL) and weekly TL were monitored using the session RPE method. Monotony and strain were weekly assessed. Jump performance was evaluated during tactical training, in which the number of vertical jumps and mean jump height were collected. Data were evaluated by comparing weeks 1 and 2 that made up the microcycle, using the paired t test for normal data and the Wilcoxon test for non-normal data, with a significance level of α ≤ 0.05. No significant differences were found in the comparison between the TL of week 1 and week 2 of the microcycle (p = 0.125), while the monotony and strain indicators had higher means in week 1. The total number of jumps performed was the same in weeks 1 and 2, but the mean number of jumps performed per training session was higher in week 2 (p = 0.012), and the mean jump height was greater in week 1 (p = 0.008). We conclude that the microcycle was balanced for the number and height of jumps, leading to equal TL values between weeks.