Athlete Profiling using Velocity-Based Training

Using VBT for profiling & assessment is designed to help coaches use the information to describe their training, evaluate their group or individual athletes, and make informed decisions about the training process. Most coaches can incorporate these assessments without altering their current training methods. Since Velocity-Based Training (VBT) techniques can complement existing programs, the first step for a coach is to assess and describe their current training process. For instance, they might look at the typical speeds their athletes reach during specific exercises within a training block.

For example, a coach might plan percentage-based lifts based on a previous one-rep max (1RM) test or use the rating of perceived exertion to measure intensity. They can then monitor velocity in the background, observing how it changes relative to the intended intensity. This approach provides a simple way for coaches to check if the athlete is training within the desired intensity zone for that session's goals.

The benefits of using VBT to profile and assess your athletes include:

1. Gauge who is the strongest athlete: Athletes with higher e1RM would have better max-strength capabilities. You may also want to consider this  relative to the athlete’s body weight to assess relative strength.

2. Test strength/velocity dominance in power production: If an athlete produces relatively high velocities at lower loads but has a low 1RM, they are likely a velocity-dominant athlete when producing their power. Likewise an athlete with a good 1RM but low velocities at lower loads, they may be strength-dominant but have poorer force maintenance capabilities at higher velocities. Knowing this can help specify training programmes to address this.

‍3. Monitor improvements: The load-velocity profile is a great way to show adaptation to training. If an athlete is improving you should see the line ‘shift-upwards’, and their estimated max-strength will improve. For highly-trained athletes you may only see certain portions of their profile improve e.g. their velocity production increases at lower loads for a previously max-strength dominant athlete.

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Load Velocity Profiling

Load-velocity (L-V) profiling is an excellent way to monitor and profile an athlete’s strength, power and velocity capabilities. A L-V profile is often used to estimate an athlete’s 1 rep max (1RM), compare athletes’ performance characteristics, and personalised exercise prescription - allowing for tailoring training to specific qualities depending on whether you’re focusing on speed, strength and/or power.

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Watch Chris Tombs walk athlete Robbie through Output’s automatic Load-Velocity Profiling feature using data collected in real time. This is an immensely valuable tool that can help coaches prescribe load and individualize training.Chris helps Robbie establish an estimated One Rep Max (1RM) which allows him to select the ideal load for Robbie to work with on that day, preventing overtraining and excessive systemic fatigue accumulation.

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Using Output to capture LVP data

You can gauge an athlete’s Load Velocity Profile using two methods:

• Capturing data during a load velocity profile assessment

• Using current data to create a load velocity profile

We can capture the data using the following protocol:

• Ensure your athlete has completed a warm-up protocol. It is recommended to use the same warm-up protocol prior to repeat load-profiling sessions for maximal reliability.

• Equipment-wise, you’ll need your Output sensor and a range of weights allowing the athlete to work across their velocity and strength range.

• For the best resolution and accuracy for the profile, the research typically recommends 4-6 sets of increasing load intensity which capture a “spread” of lighter loads (mean velocity > 1 m/s), moderate loads (mean velocity 0.65-1 m/s) and heavy loads (mean velocity < 0.65 m/s) [1]. An example comprehensive data capture protocol is:

The athlete must complete every repetition of every set with their maximal intent (best possible velocity). Utilising the biofeedback from the Capture app during the data capture can encourage this! Whilst load-velocity profiling is not as fatiguing as traditional RM testing, sufficient and consistent rest is recommended between sets to ensure max intent can be achieved. For reliable results try to ensure the athlete uses consistent movement patterns across every set.

Watch the full walkthrough! Learn how to capture data for a L-V Profile and how this helps to predict an athlete's 1RM quickly and efficiently. 

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How to use current VBT data to create a load-velocity profile:

Once you have captured your VBT data across a “spread” of loads as outlined above, navigate across to the Output Hub. From here, it is very easy to create and view the athlete’s load-velocity profile. Simply,

1. Navigate to their athlete profile by clicking on their name in the Output Hub
2. Select the ‘Profiling’ option from the graphing options on the left hand side
3. Click ‘Baseline Sets’ and select the sets of exercises with the checkbox selector that you would like to use to generate the profile.
4. Once selected, a load-velocity profile will be generated automatically!

• For some exercises you will also see a minimum velocity threshold. From here you can actually click the data point to set that value as the athlete’s 1RM

To learn more about Output, book your personalized consultation session where one of our performance specialists will work with you to understand your testing, monitoring, and performance needs. They will then draw from the experiences of the leading practitioners from pro, college and high school leagues and demonstrate how they use Output to solve similar challenges. Based on your individual needs our specialists can then outline the most suitable packages for you, so you're only paying for what you need! BOOK HERE.