The association between resistance training volume load and session rating of perceived exertion in junior developmental female rugby league athletes

Field-based team sports typically perform mixed-modality training, incorporating both field- and resistance-based sessions. As such, the availability of useful and reliable methods to monitor the internal and external training loads of all modalities is essential for planning effective training. Twenty-one junior developmental female rugby league athletes (age: 17.5 +/- 0.5 years, height: 167.7 +/- 4.6 cm, body mass: 71.1 +/- 12.9 kg, and training age: 2.3 +/- 1.1 year) performed two to three resistance training sessions a week for 20 weeks (9 weeks preseason and 11 weeks in-season). The volume load method and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) were used to quantify the external and internal load of the resistance training sessions, respectively. Volume load was categorised into either dynamic, plyometric, maximal or repeated efforts. Multiple linear mixed models were performed to determine whether significant relationships were present between the changes in volume load components and sRPE throughout the season. Significant relationships were identified between a decrease in sRPE, with associated increases in absolute and relative overall volume load (T1,725.5 = -2.1, p = 0.04; T1,133.5 = -2.2, p = 0.03), and relative dynamic (T1,24.1 = -8.4, p < 0.01) and lower-body plyometric efforts (T1,16.8 = -17.2, p < 0.01). Conversely, significant relationships were observed between an increase in sRPE, with associated increases in relative lower-body (T1,20.3 = 12.9, p < 0.01) and upper-body repeated efforts (T1,28.5 = 9.7, p = 0.03) as well as relative upper-body plyometric (T1,71.1 = 2.9, p = 0.01) and maximal efforts (T1,75.3 = 3.4, p < 0.01). These findings highlight the practicality of the volume load method for planning and monitoring resistance training in field-based team sport athletes, providing useful data for the planning of specific exercises within the in-season training week.