Optimizing the implementation of subjective measures in athlete monitoring: Psychological perspectives for practical applications

Subjective measures provide valuable insight into athletes’ experiences, but coaches often express concerns because athletes need to interpret and report their internal states accurately. In this article, we show how integrating psychological and psychometric principles into athlete management systems (AMS) can provide the foundation for the rigorous measurement and interpretation of subjective information, thereby addressing these concerns. We first clarify core concepts of validity and reliability and discuss psychological, contextual, and response-related threats that may compromise subjective data. We then examine selected established measures used in athlete monitoring, including measures of mood, recovery–stress, perceived exertion, fatigue, and life demands, with emphasis on their intended constructs, temporal characteristics, and response formats. Finally, we outline how the longitudinal structure of AMS can support ongoing athlete-specific psychometric evaluation. In summary, through rigorous repeated measurement, AMS can strengthen evidence for the validity and reliability of subjective measures, thereby better supporting coaches in their decision-making regarding specific athletes.