Coaching From the Cloud: New Approaches to Individualized Training Prescription

Top coaches understand the importance of internal training load monitoring and rely on data to guide training efforts at an individual level. The ability of Firstbeat Sports to synchronize and share data through integrated cloud functions enables the platform to analyze remotely recorded heartbeat data and share the results with coaches and players alike.

Optimizing team training efforts is difficult under the best conditions. The challenges multiply during the off-season, when players are away from team training facilities. For many teams players are scattered not only across the country, but around the world during the off-season – and yet the need to maintain fitness and basic conditioning protocols remains.

Maritta Becker, assistant coach of ERC Ingolstadt, is familiar with the challenges of remote coordination, as she prepares the team for the season ahead. Since 2015, Becker has been using Firstbeat Sports cloud-based functionality to coordinate off-season training activities for Ingolstadt players regardless of where they spend their off-season time. It has proven to be a vital resource in her efforts.

Becker is, herself, a legend in German hockey circles with 270 appearances at forward for the German National Team, where set a record for most points scored. She is also a 3-time Olympian and has been inducted into the German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

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ERC Ingolstadt players are given heart monitoring capable multisport watches to record training sessions. Training data from these devices is then seamlessly transferred to the the Firstbeat Sports system, where it is analyzed and transformed into insights that coaches and players can use together in the creation of beneficial training prescriptions.

The outcome is highly-personalized coaching advice delivered with ease around the world.

Becker can access player training data immediately on her laptop in Ingolstadt, allowing her to get straight to the task of coaching and advisement. “When our athletes can go for a run somewhere in Canada, I can see the data here in Bavaria. The reports based on the analysed data give all the important information in detail and I can forward it directly to the other coaches, as needed”, she explains. “That helps us to individualize training prescriptions, even over long distances, especially because it isn’t just raw heart rate data, but includes specific training parameters such as TRIMP, EPOC, or VO2max.”

“This process allows us to coach each player individually with expert input from members of the training staff – regardless of where they are in the world,” Becker describes. “Team trainers can simultaneously guide the loading of individual players while coordinating progress of the entire team. The utilization of objective training data gives us a chance to ensure the team is working out at the right level, while ensuring that the needs of individual players are met in an ideal way.”

“Before the day’s workouts, I’ll talk to the other coaches about the session’s goals – a specific TRIMP score, for example, and we use the real-time monitoring features to each player’s progress towards their individual target.  After training, coaches receive a group reports for the team and each player receives and individual report.”

Firstbeat’s Quick Recovery Test (QRT) is expected to help the team manage through a tough schedule next season. Recent updates to the testing protocol have made the QRT both easier and faster to perform, making it easier to integrate into daily training activities.

“Given the number of games we prepare for and play each season, we expect QRT data to be extremely helpful. The recovery index provided is a great resource in our injury prevention efforts and helps us avoid overtraining of the players,” reports Becker.

ERC Ingolstadt Head Coach Kurt Kleinendorst is among those to have recognized the expertise and enthusiasm Becker brings to the game, highlighting the effectiveness with which she communicates with the team. “To watch Maritta how she enjoys her job, how she talks to the players, is simply amazing,” he describes.

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