THE RELIABILITY OF RATING PERCEIVED EXERTION AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH HEART RATE IN YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS

The aim of this study were to assess the reliability of the RPE scales and the relationship between RPE and HR in young football players (age 15.6 ± 0.4). Twenty male outfield football players (n = 20, 1.67 ± 0.4 m, 55.3 ± 8.4 kg) from the Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil (SSBJ) volunteered to participate in this study. The Football Simulation Protocol (FSP), a test that replicates the U15 football match-play was performed on two occasions to determine test-retest reliability of the RPE. The participants performed 4 x 20-min ‘blocks’ of exercise separated by 3 min recovery. Within the rest periods between exercise blocks, RPE and HR were administered. No significant differences was observed between trials in the RPE scales (P >0.05). The Pearson Correlation and ICC showed excellent correlations of the RPE (r= .776, ICC= 0.834, P<0.05). Further assesment of realibility indicating excellent repeatability evidence for the scales (SEM = ± 0.2, 95% CI = ± 0.4). Moderate correlation was found between RPE and HR (r = .581, P< 0.05). In conclusion, the RPE scales is valid and reliable to be use with young football players. The findings also indicates that inclusion of RPE in monitoring training load can provide important information to athletes, coaches and sports scientist.