Pre-Season Planning in Soccer: Why Heart Rate Still Matters

Every coach knows that the pre-season is vital. It sets the tone for the rest of the campaign. If you get it wrong, you can spend months trying to catch up. The pre-season is a critical period as it focuses on building the physiological, psychological, and technical foundation from which peak performance is developed during the in-season.  

But how do you know if players are adapting well? How do you make smart, objective decisions and be confident that your program is having the desired effect? 

That’s where heart rate monitoring comes into play, helping to complete the bigger picture. This webinar, featuring guest speaker and renowned Sport Scientist Dr. James Malone, explores how heart rate monitoring can be used to optimize pre-season planning and delivery in soccer.  

You’ll learn how to: 

• Interpret key HR metrics
• How to use Submaximal Fitness Test
• Balance internal and external load
• Apply data-driven insights to improve player readiness, manage injury risk, and individualize training across this crucial phase  

Whether you’re refining your approach or building from the ground up, this webinar will give you practical tools to get the most out of your players during pre-season, safely and efficiently.