Align Expectations to Mitigate Fatigue

Athletes often experience overwhelming fatigue due to various stressors, including training demands, academic pressures, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and hydration issues. This complex fatigue can lead to a mismatch in workout perception, where an easy workout may feel hard, creating conflict in performance understanding. To address this, coaches should assign an expected Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) for workouts and compare it to athletes' actual RPE ratings post-workout. This practice can highlight discrepancies between expectations and reality, facilitating better understanding of athletes' conditions and the need for adjustments in training approaches.