Collegiate Male Soccer Players Reporting Their Perceived Exertion: Differences in Internal and External Intensity between Different RPE Values and Zones
(Zheng Li, Shenglei Qin, Xiaotian Li, Dingmeng Ren)

This study aimed to: (1) investigate the association between subjective perception (RPE, sRPE) and objective metrics (TRIMP, average HR and peak HR both expressed as %HRmax, total distance, PlayerLoadTM, acceleration distance > 1 m/s2, and running distance ≥14 km/h) in training monitoring using a repeated-measure design, and (2) assess the utility of RPE levels (values and zones) in differentiating among particular training intensities. This study used a longitudinal study design. Fifteen collegiate male soccer players (age 19.6 ± 0.8 years, body height 179.1 ± 5.4 cm, body mass 70.8 ± 4.9 kg, BMI 22.1 ± 1.7 kg/m2, body fat rate 10.9 ± 2.3%, HRrest 56.6 ± 8.0, HRmax 194.9 ± 7.3) participated in the study. GPS-based wearable devices and the RPE scale were used to training monitoring. Based on 676 observations from 69 training sessions, a moderate to large correlation was found between the SRPE and internal/external loads (r ranges from 0.34 to 0.60, p < 0.001), while a small to moderate correlation was observed between the RPE and internal/external intensity (r ranges from 0.11 to 0.35, p < 0.001). When distributing training intensity, significant effects were found between RPE values and RPE zones (p < 0.05). Our study provides evidence for understanding the relationship between the subjective load assessment method (RPE and sRPE) and objective methods. Specific ranges of internal and external intensity variables can be divided between RPE value (1–9 AU) and the RPE zone (low, moderate, high).