The objectives of this dissertation were to investigate the utility of cf-DNA as a marker of systemic inflammation, fatigue, and training status in a long-term athlete monitoring program (LTAMP). In study one, cf-DNA, other biochemical markers, volume load, and training intensity were measured in weightlifters over 20 weeks. The changes and relationships between these variables were investigated in order to determine which variables may be indicative of an athlete’s training status. In study two, cf-DNA, other biochemical markers, and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) were measured over the course of a 15-week soccer season in order investigate the utility of cf-DNA as an indicator of systemic inflammation and fatigue. In study one, CK was statistically greater T2 than T4, T5, and T6 at p = 0.015, 0.025, and 0.030 respectively. cf-DNA %Δ was correlated with CRP percent change and BF% (r = 0.86 and r = 0.91 respectively). The correlation between cf-DNA and CRP suggests that cf-DNA may be a valuable indicator of inflammation. Upon further visual inspection, cf-DNA and CRP also appeared to rise and fall with changes in volume load with displacement (VLwD). In study 2, G1, cf-DNA (P = 0.001), CRP (P = 0.000), CK (P = 0.003), cf-DNA %Δ (P = 0.002), CRP %Δ (P = 0.002), and CK %Δ (P = 0.002) were all significantly higher than T1 at T2 and T3. In G2, CRP (P = 0.057) and CRP %Δ (P = 0.039) were significantly higher at T2 than T1. Despite the lack of statistically significant differences across all 3 testing times, cf-DNA %Δ, CRP %Δ, and CK %Δ increased throughout the season in G1. In G2, cf-DNA %Δ, CRP %Δ, and CK %Δ were all higher at T2 and T3 than T1 but fewer significant differences were present, potentially a result of the lower sRPE values in G2 versus G1.These results suggest that cf-DNA may a useful marker to reflect accumulated training and competitive stressors. The correlation between cf-DNA and CRP in study 1 suggests that cf-DNA may be a valuable indicator of inflammation.

The purposes of this dissertation were to examine common athlete training and monitoring practices in men’s collegiate soccer and to report the programming strategies and monitoring outcomes for an NCAA Division I men’s collegiate soccer team whose coaching and sport science staff collaborated on a daily basis. The following are the major findings of the dissertation: Study 1 – Coaches from all divisions of play responded to a custom survey. A majority of coaches developed an in-season training plan that varied both daily and weekly volume and intensity. One-third of the coaches performed no athlete monitoring, and a number of coaches performed purely subjective monitoring of training load and fatigue. Common athlete monitoring tools included sport performance, self-report questionnaires, and physical performance tests. Most coaches believed their athletes did not change or improved in all aspects of performance, while injuries were a mix of new and recurrent. Study 2 – Statistical differences in training load were found between each phase of the season, and training load variation was found with respect to the number of days before a match. Phasic training loads were highest during the pre-season and non-conference portions of the season and decreased significantly during conference play and the post-season. The daily training load values reflected the player groups’ match involvement and therefore led to different loading strategies between the groups. Study 3 – No statistically significant decreases in squat jump height occurred across the season, although a moderate practical decline occurred following the pre-season. The correlation between training load and squat jump height were statistically non-significant, while the cross-correlation was significant. The athlete monitoring program was successful in managing the athletes’ neuromuscular fatigue across the season as evidenced by the maintenance of squat jump height and positive relationship between training load and changes in squat jump height. Coach education on the importance of athlete training load and fatigue monitoring is imperative. Collaboration between coaching and sport science staffs in conjunction with an athlete monitoring program can ensure variation in training load and can help manage athlete fatigue across a competitive season.

A monitoring program is essential in assuring goal attainment and reducing the risk of overtraining or undertraining, establishing long-term athlete development, and ensuring success. This monitoring program needs to be integrated into the training process, developed, and executed by both the sport science and coaching staff. This staff forms the SPEG (sports performance enhancement group), which is athlete centered and coach driven. The purpose of this dissertation was to create an evidence based, or white box approach, to collegiate distance running by identifying key characteristics, utilizing appropriate monitoring tools, and examining the annual plan. Collegiate distance runners took part in a monitoring program through East Tennessee State University, which included vertical jumps, V̇O2max, running economy, anthropometrics, isometric mid-thigh pull, performance results and ultrasound measurements. There were strong correlations between performance results and monitoring data, and there were significant changes that occurred throughout the monitoring program. The results indicate the importance of V̇O2max in collegiate runners and that monitoring variables, including performance, sum of skinfolds, ultrasound and vertical jumps significantly change throughout the competitive season. The results also identify characteristics of a high-level runner and indicate the impact that a strength program can have on monitoring variables and performance. Results further suggest that strength can be a critical component of a training program, can be tracked through systematic monitoring, and is associated with an increase in performance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinetic and morphological adaptations that occur during distinct phases of a block periodized training cycle in weightlifters. Monitoring data from nine experienced collegiate weightlifters was examined retrospectively. Isometric mid-thigh pull and ultrasonography results from pre and post three specific training phases within a macrocycle leading up to a competition were compared. Changes in isometric rate of force development and vastus lateralis cross-sectional area reflected the expected adaptations of each training phase.

The purposes of this study were to investigate effects of partial block periodized strength training on physical performance and to examine relationships between initial muscle strength measured with isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and performance changes after 7 weeks of strength training. Seventeen collegiate male soccer players participated. Initial muscle strength was determined using IMTP while physical performance included 10 m and 20 m sprints and static vertical jump with a polyvinyl chloride pipe (SJ0), 20 kg barbell (SJ20), and barbell loaded to 40 kg bar (SJ40). Performance testing was performed at three points: before first week (baseline), fourth week (T1), and seventh week (T2). Statistically small to moderate changes were found from baseline to T2 in peak power (PP; < 0.001, ES = 0.49), net impulse (NI; < 0.001, ES = 0.49), peak velocity (PV; < 0.001, ES = 0.62), allometrically scaled PP (PPa; < 0.001, ES = 0.62) in SJ20 and jump height (JH) in SJ40 ( < 0.001, ES = 0.36). Moderate to large correlations were found between isometric peak force and the changes from baseline to T2 in SJ20 PP ( = 0.04, = -0.49), SJ20 PF ( = 0.03, = -0.52), PPa ( = 0.04, = -0.50), and SJ20 allometrically scaled peak force ( = 0.04, = -0.49). Properly structured strength training maximizes task-specific physical performance. Initial muscle strength negatively affects the magnitudes of adaptations to physical performance.

The overall purpose of this dissertation was to assess the Weightlifting team’s athlete and coach perception of the athlete monitoring program at East Tennessee State University over the course of a mesocycle. This was accomplished by conducting a single investigation using eleven well-trained weightlifters and three coaches. Five data collections were carried out over the course of a single mesocycle leading up to a competition. No statistically significant perceptual changes throughout the training program were observed among any questions for weightlifters or coaches. Interpretation of the means for each question indicate that both weightlifters’ and coaches’ perceptions of the SPEC program’s ability to influence the components assessed by the questionnaire were positive ranging from no different to much better. Participants agree that they do understand why they take part in both SPEC testing and monitoring, and coaches indicated that data from testing and monitoring is used to develop and alter their athletes training. Results further indicate regular communication between coaches and their athletes about the purpose of their programming.

This study investigated changes in maximal jump performance in response to match play induced fatigue. During six sets of tournament match play, seven National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics women’s volleyball athletes accumulated a mean Player Load of 758.6±216.89 au (measured via microsensor accelerometry), and mean session rate of perceived exertion of 1184.1±363.2. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to identify change with Hedge’s g effect sizes used to assess magnitude of change. Short recovery stress scale results indicated elevated stress (ES=1.401 to 1.588) and decreased recovery (ES = -1.358 to -1.848) 24 hours post-match, trending towards baseline 48 hours post-match. Countermovement jump height (CMJH) decreased immediately post-match (p<0.01, ES= -0.216), partially recovered Post24 (p=0.109, ES=0.130), and fully recovered by Post48 (p < 0.01, ES=0.216). It was concluded that match-play may have contributed to the observable decline in post-match maximal jump performance, and CMJH testing may be an effective assessment of acute neuromuscular status.

American football is one of the most popular sports in the United States. However, in comparison to other mainstream sports such as soccer and rugby, there is limited literature using scientific principles and theory to examine the most appropriate ways to monitor the sport. This serves as a barrier to American football practitioners in their development and implementation of evidence-based sport preparation programs. Therefore, the primary aim of this line of research (i.e., dissertation) is to illustrate the efficacy of commonly used athlete monitoring tools within the sport of American collegiate football, while proposing a systematic framework to guide the development of an athlete monitoring program. This aim was achieved through a series of studies with the following objectives: 1) to quantify the physical demands of American collegiate football practice by creating physiological movement profiles through the use of integrated microtechnology metrics and heart rate indices, 2) to determine the positional differences in the physical practice demands of American collegiate football athletes, 3) to examine which integrated microtechnology metrics might be used to most efficiently monitor the training load of American collegiate football athletes, 4) to demonstrate the suitability of using the countermovement jump (CMJ) to assess training adaptations in American collegiate football athletes through examining weekly changes in CMJ performance over the course of two 4-week periodized training blocks (8 weeks total), and 5) to examine the effect of acute fatigue on CMJ performance in American football athletes. The first study from this line of research quantified the physical demands of American collegiate football by position groups and found significant differences in both running based and non-running based training load metrics. In addition, the first study utilized a principal component analysis to determine 5 'principal' components that explain approximately 81% of the variance within the data. The second study utilized a univariate analysis and found significant changes in CMJ performance due the effect of time with significant improvements in CMJ 'strategy' variables over the training period. Finally, the third study used effects sizes to illustrate a larger magnitude of change in CMJ 'strategy' variables than CMJ 'output' variables due to effect of acute fatigue. Results from studies 2 and 3 suggest the importance of monitoring CMJ strategy variables when monitoring training adaptations and fatigue in American collegiate football athletes. This line of research provides practitioners with a systematic framework through which they can develop and implement evidence-based sport preparation programs within their own organizational context. In addition, this line of research provides practitioners with recommendations for which metrics to monitor when tracking training load in American collegiate football using integrated microtechnology. Finally, this line of research demonstrates how to assess training adaptations and fatigue using the CMJ within the sport of American collegiate football, while providing an empirical base through which the selection of CMJ variables can take place. Collectively, this line of research uses scientific principles and theory to extend the current literature in American collegiate football, while providing practitioners with a guide to athlete monitoring within the sport. / Doctor of Philosophy / American football is one the most popular sports in the United States. Despite its popularity, there is limited research using scientific principles and theories to examine ways to most effectively monitor the sport. Broadly, athlete monitoring refers to the process of providing informational feedback from the athlete to practitioners. This allows practitioners to make decisions informed by data. Therefore, this line of research (i.e. dissertation) aimed to use a variety of commonly used athlete monitoring tools to monitor American collegiate football athletes, while proposing a framework to guide in the development of an athlete monitoring program. This line of research consisted of a series of 3 studies. In study #1, it was found that integrated microtechnology units and heart rate sensors could be used to determine the physical demands of American collegiate football practice, as well as differences in the physical demands of practice by position group. In addition, a set of 5 training load constructs were found through which training load in American collegiate football athletes may be appropriately monitored. In study #2, it was found that countermovement jump (CMJ) strategy variables indicating how the jump occurred may provide more insight into strength and power training adaptations than CMJ output variables that indicate what occurred as a result of the jump in this highly trained athletic population. Finally, in study #3, it was found that CMJ strategy variables may be more sensitive to acute fatigue from a football-specific training session than CMJ output variables in American collegiate football athletes. Collectively, this research suggest that integrated microtechnology units, heart rate sensors, and the CMJ using a force testing platform may be used to monitor American collegiate football athletes. Moreover, this research suggests which variables to utilize when monitoring this population using these tools through the proposed athlete monitoring framework.

There is a need for reliable analysis techniques for kinetic data for coaches and sport scientists who employ athlete monitoring practices. The purpose of the study was: (1) to determine intra- and inter-rater reliability within a manual-based kinetic analysis program; and (2) to determine test-retest reliability of an algorithm-based kinetic analysis program. Five independent raters used a manual analysis program to analyse 100 isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) trials obtained from previously collected data. Each trial was analysed three times. The same IMTP trials were analysed using an algorithm-based analysis software. Variables measured were peak force, rate of force development from 0 to 50 ms (RFD50) and RFD from 0 to 200 ms (RFD200). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were used to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability. Nearly perfect reliability was observed for the manual-based (ICC > 0.92). However, poor intra- and inter-rater CV was observed for RFD (CV > 16.25% and CV > 32.27%, respectively). The algorithm-based method resulted in perfect reliability in all measurements (ICC = 1.0, CV = 0%). While manual methods of kinetic analysis may provide sufficient reliability, the perfect reliability observed within the algorithm-based method in the current study suggest it is a superior method for use in athlete monitoring programs.

The purposes of this study were to examine the effectiveness of an athlete monitoring program in managing athlete neuromuscular fatigue across a men's collegiate soccer season as measured by changes in squat jump (SJ) height and to compare possible changes with the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) training load (TL). Eighteen outfield Division I men's college soccer players performed SJ testing before each game of the fall season in addition to a baseline measurement at the start of preseason. The athletes provided sRPE values after all training sessions, weight-training, and games. Linear mixed modeling was used to compare changes in SJ height across the season with the baseline, and a correlation coefficient and single-lag cross-correlation coefficient were calculated between TL and changes in SJ height. No statistically significant decreases in SJ height occurred across the season, although a moderate practical decline occurred after the preseason (−1.6 cm, effect size = −0.70). The correlation between TL and changes in SJ height was statistically nonsignificant, whereas the cross-correlation was significant (r = 0.18, p = 0.48 and r = 0.55, p = 0.02, respectively). The athlete monitoring program was successful in managing the athletes' neuromuscular fatigue across the season as evidenced by the maintenance of SJ height and positive relationship between TL and changes in SJ height. Thus, SJ monitoring may serve as a useful fatigue monitoring tool for collegiate soccer athletes. Future study is needed, relating changes in vertical jump performance to other markers of athlete preparedness and performance.