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Simplified Tables for Cognitive and Physiological Metrics
Simplified Tables for Cognitive and Physiological Metrics
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Reaction Time

What It Is

How fast an athlete responds to a stimulus.

Why It’s Important

Shows how quickly an athlete can react.

Good Indicators

Faster responses mean better reaction speed.

How to Interpret Reaction Time

Low reaction time alone isn’t sufficient- Combine with other metrics (e.g., Coefficient of Variation) to assess true performance changes.

Minute-on-Minute

Faster: Athlete is adapting.

Slower: Athlete may be getting fatigued.

Inconsistent: Needs more consistency.

Stable: Athlete is consistent.

Speed

What It Is

How fast an athlete responds to a stimulus.

Why It’s Important

Normalizes reaction times, reducing outlier impact.

Provides a clearer picture of performance.

Enhances accuracy in analyzing abilities.

Identifies inconsistencies.

Good Indicators

Higher speed means faster performance.

How to Interpret Speed

Inversely related to reaction time.

Higher Speed: Faster responses or outliers.

Lower Speed: Slower responses or outliers.

Evaluate with accuracy and variation.

Minute-on-Minute

Faster: Improved processing.

Slower: Possible fatigue.

Inconsistent: Needs stability.

Stable: Consistent performance.

Variation

What It Is

Consistency in an athlete’s performance.

Why It’s Important

Shows how reliable the performance is.

Good Indicators

Lower variation means more consistent results.

How to Interpret Variation

Distinguishes genuine progress from natural fluctuations: Helps determine if improvements are real or just random changes.

Essential for comprehensive performance assessment: Provides a complete view of an athlete’s abilities.

Low Variation: Shows that the athlete is maintaining consistent performance.

High Variation: Suggests potential issues like fatigue, lack of focus, or inconsistent performance.

Minute-on-Minute

Low: More consistent.

High: Inconsistent performance.

Fluctuating: Lacks consistent performance.

Stable: Well-adapted.

RCS (Rate Correct Score)

What It Is

Balances speed and accuracy in performance.

Why It’s Important

Measures overall performance efficiency.

Good Indicators

Higher RCS means better speed and accuracy.

How to Interpret RCS

Increase in RCS: Better speed and accuracy.

Decrease in RCS: Possible fatigue or focus shift.

Steady RCS: Routine workload or full adaptation.

Minute-on-Minute

Higher: Improved efficiency.

Lower: Possible fatigue.

Inconsistent: Lacks consistent performance.

Stable: Consistent performance.

Accuracy

What It Is

How correct an athlete’s responses are.

Why It’s Important

Ensures tasks are performed correctly.

Good Indicators

Higher accuracy means fewer mistakes.

How to Interpret Accuracy

Increase in Accuracy: Fewer errors, more precise.

Decrease in Accuracy: More errors, possible fatigue or stress.

Stable Accuracy: Consistent precision.

Minute-on-Minute

Higher: Better precision.

Lower: More errors.

Inconsistent: Lacks consistent performance.

Stable: Reliable performance.

rMSSD

What It Is

Measures short-term heart rate variability by calculating the square root of the mean squared differences between successive normal heartbeats.

Why It’s Important

Reflects parasympathetic nervous system activity, indicating the body’s capacity to manage stress and recover.

Good Indicators

Higher rMSSD values suggest effective stress management and recovery.

Watch For

Lower rMSSD may indicate increased stress or overtraining.

Minute-on-Minute

Higher: Good recovery.

Lower: Needs recovery.

Fluctuating: Erratic stress patterns.

Stable: Balanced stress management.

SDNN

What It Is

Measures overall heart rate variability by calculating the standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals over a specified period.

Why It’s Important

Reflects the heart’s ability to respond to stress and recover, encompassing both sympathetic and parasympathetic influences.

Good Indicators

Higher SDNN values indicate better cardiovascular health and autonomic flexibility.

Watch For

Lower SDNN may signal increased stress or insufficient recovery.

Minute-on-Minute

Higher: Good recovery.

Lower: Needs recovery.

Fluctuating: Erratic stress patterns.

Stable: Balanced stress management.

Context Matters: Combining MoM and Mean Data

When analyzing MoM data alongside mean data, it’s crucial to understand the context behind the numbers to make informed decisions.

Heavy Season

During intense competition schedules, cognitive training loads should be lighter to maintain peak performance. Expect minimal fluctuations in MoM data during this period, as the focus is on sustaining performance and optimizing for game day. Significant fluctuations may indicate an overly demanding training load that requires adjustment.

Off-Season or Pre-Season

These phases are ideal for pushing training intensity and applying cognitive stress to drive adaptation and improvement. Greater fluctuations in MoM data are expected, reflecting the increased demands on the athlete.

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