How EV Landshut Manages Weekly Training Load and Keeps All Players Match Ready

Leo Loibl is the Strength & Conditioning Coach at EV Landshut, a professional ice hockey team competing in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga 2. In this user story, Leo shares the importance of consistent data collection, how Firstbeat helps to guide training throughout the week, and how he keeps non-playing players match-ready.

Leo’s Coaching Journey – From Youth Hockey to Pro Leagues

Photo Credit: Bruno Bounty

Leo began his journey in ice hockey as a strength coach within a youth hockey organization, where he was responsible for the physical development of multiple teams while studying sport science. Working across several age groups gave him early exposure to load management, training structure, and long-term athlete development.

“Being responsible for all teams at a young age forced me to think about load management very early on,” Leo explains. “I had to balance development, recovery, and performance across very different age groups.”

Since the 2025/2026 season, Leo has been working as a Strength & Conditioning Coach for EV Landshut, now applying data-driven principles at the professional level.

The Importance of Consistency in Data Collection

At Landshut, each player is assigned their own Firstbeat sensor, which remains at their individual locker room spot. Players wear their sensors every time they step on the ice, ensuring consistent and comprehensive data collection.

“The key for me is consistency,” Leo says. “If players wear the sensors every time they’re on the ice, I get a complete picture of their load, not just snapshots.”

Monitoring Training and Game Load Across the Week

Photo Credit: Bruno Bounty

Load monitoring plays a central role in Leo’s daily work. Using the Firstbeat Sports system, he continuously reviews the distribution of training and game load across the week.

“We want the hardest training early in the week,” Leo explains. “As we get closer to game day, sessions become shorter and faster, with a clear focus on readiness rather than fatigue.”

TRIMP and Movement Load are used as the primary reference metrics to evaluate both individual sessions and the weekly load profile. Weekly accumulated loads are closely monitored, especially during congested schedules.

“Objective data allows us to see when a week was truly demanding, not just when it felt hard,” Leo says. “That’s crucial when deciding whether we need to adjust volume or intensity.”

Beyond overall load distribution, Leo also analyzes how players respond to specific training drills by comparing Movement Load–to–TRIMP ratios.

“During training, I look at how the Movement Load to TRIMP ratio changes for similar drills,” Leo explains. “If we see higher Movement Loads with the same or even lower TRIMP values, that usually indicates an improvement in fitness, and that’s always a positive sign.”

All training and game data is summarized and shared with the coaching staff, providing a clear overview of both team and individual load and supporting informed daily decisions in training planning and player management.

Game Replacement Training for Non-Playing Athletes

One of the most important use cases for Firstbeat Sports at Landshut is player replacement training for non-playing athletes.

“Non-playing players are one of the biggest challenges in load management,” Leo explains. If they miss game exposure, we need to compensate to maintain performance levels, even if the optimal adaptive stimulus cannot be fully replicated.”

During replacement training sessions, Training Effect and TRIMP/Min are used to align training load as closely as possible with typical game demands. The goal is to reproduce comparable internal loads to those experienced during competition.

“We don’t just guess how hard replacement training should be,” Leo says. “We use game data as a benchmark and build sessions around that.”

This approach ensures that non-playing players remain physically prepared and ready to step back into competition without a performance drop.

Return to Competition After Injury

Photo Credit: Bruno Bounty

Firstbeat Sports also supports a structured and controlled return-to-competition process for injured players. Load is progressively increased as players reintegrate into team practices.

“The biggest mistake is doing too much, too fast,” Leo says. “Data helps us stay patient and objective during the return-to-play phase.”

TRIMP and Movement Load are monitored closely and compared to each player’s individual baseline values from normal training and games.

“Before a player returns to games, we want their load profile to be as close as possible to their normal, pre-injury values,” Leo explains. “That gives us confidence that they are physically ready.”

This process helps reduce re-injury risk and supports a safe and sustainable return to competition.

Creating Player Buy-In Through Data

Beyond performance and load management, Leo sees player buy-in as one of the biggest benefits of using Firstbeat.

“When players see their own data and progress, commitment increases immediately,” he says. “Especially during hard conditioning sessions.”

Individual reports help players understand the purpose behind demanding sessions and how their work translates into performance and readiness.

“Once players understand the ‘why’, they’re much more willing to push themselves,” Leo explains. “That changes the whole training culture.”

Want to learn more about how professional ice hockey teams use Firstbeat? Check out our webinar recording with Colorado Avalanche’s Alexi Pianosi for practical insights on keeping players performing at their best throughout the busy NHL season. Watch it here.