ABSTRACT
Training stress should be assessed to determine progress, lack thereof, and whether the athlete is overtrained or not. The Cooper 12 minute run can be used to assess aerobic capacity, the Wingate Anaerobic Test, and time to fatigue at 100% of VO2max/peak can be used to assess anaerobic capacity, while maximal strength testing on the three Powerlifts can be used to determine maximal strength. These tests should be used about every three to four weeks to assess training status. Overtraining is a stagnation of training progress and has many physical symptoms such as weight loss and a reduction in appetite, lethargy, and upper respiratory tract infections. A number of strategies can be employed to stave off overtraining collectively known as good training hygiene. Overtraining can be assessed by the DALDA questionnaire which is the Daily Analysis of Life Demands in Athletes, Profile of Mood States (POMS), practice Ratings of Perceived Exertion, various sleep questionnaires, blood lactate, and blood glucose measurements. Also, the potential for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport should be assessed, and clearly the Coaches should track metrics on these indexes throughout the season.
