As a fitness professional who trains youth all the way up to collegiate athletes, I cannot stress enough the importance of global load management. Global load management can be thought of as all the encompassing stressors that an athlete has to manage throughout the course of the year. Some examples of things that fall under global load are; practice time/intensity/volume, weightroom time/intensity/volume, games, school stress, social stress and any other stressors athletes may be exposed to.
In this day and age, athletes are expected to perform at an elite level year-round. They are expected to compete in multiple sports, attend various training sessions, maintain a high academic standard and balance a social life. However, this can lead to overtraining/overstimulating, which can and will have negative consequences on an athlete’s health and performance.
Overtraining can result in physical, emotional and mental exhaustion, which can lead to an increased risk of injury, decreased athletic performance, or even burnout. This is why global load management is important for athletes as well as parents. It allows them to draw awareness, manage their stressors, and optimize their overall performance without putting their health at risk. More isn’t always better. Optimal is better.
Global load awareness also helps coaches track their athletes’ progress throughout the year. Keeping track of necessary KPI’s (readiness score, sleep, vertical jump, grades) can help identify any potential problems before they become serious issues. This allows them to make necessary adjustments to the athlete’s training program which can help mitigate risk of injury.
To wrap up, global load management is an essential part of any coaches/athletes training program. It allows all parties to track stressors and optimize overall performance. As a professional it is my duty to educate coaches, athletes/clients, and parents on the importance of global load management and help them develop a plan of action to manage their stressors effectively.
With strength,
Colin Masterson
Owner – CM1 Performance