Psychological and physiological responses to training are linked. Psychological disruptions often mirror overtrained or maladapted states before obvious physiological indices appear. [At ICAR the POMS test is used. That is a general test of mood state disruption. A more sensitive measure for use in sporting environments is the DALDA (Rushall & Pyke, 1990).] The assessment of athletes' behaviors and moods is a valid procedure for determining whether training loads should or should not be adjusted. Psychological monitoring of athlete states may be a more cost-effective measure than using physiological tests.
Implication. Testing athletes for psychological disturbances is a valid method for evaluating training responses.
[Rushall, B. S., & Pyke, F. S. (1990). Training for sports and fitness. Melbourne: Macmillan Education.]
Return to Table of Contents for ICAR 1989-90 Report.