Effect of match load on perceived wellness in highly trained female football players

A summary of the research:

This study looked at how playing competitive matches affects the well-being, or "wellness," of highly trained female football players over the two days following a game. Wellness includes things like how tired players feel (fatigue), muscle soreness (delayed onset muscular soreness or DOMS), stress levels, and how well and how long they sleep. Researchers wanted to see how these factors changed from matchday and if physical information collected during the match, like distances covered at high speeds, could predict these wellness changes. The study followed professional and semi-professional players in Norway for over 22 weeks and 33 matches, using GPS trackers for physical data and asking players daily about their wellness on a simple scale.

The study found that competitive matches significantly impacted the players' wellness and sleep. Fatigue and muscle soreness increased sharply the day after a match (MD+1) and were still elevated two days after (MD+2) compared to before the match. Sleep quality and sleep duration also decreased the day after the match. While sleep quality seemed to improve by MD+2, players still reported sleeping fewer hours than on matchday. Stress levels, however, didn't show significant changes after a match. Importantly, the study found that metrics from GPS data, like how far players ran or sprinted, weren't strong predictors of how players would feel (fatigue, DOMS, stress) in the days after a match. This suggests that simply looking at external physical work during a game doesn't fully explain the individual recovery experience.

Here are three key practical takeaways from the study's results for coaches and administrators:

• Expect and plan for significant fatigue and soreness for at least 48 hours post-match. The study clearly shows that fatigue and DOMS are highest on the day after a match (MD+1) and remain significantly elevated on MD+2. Coaches should significantly reduce physical training load and intensity during this 48-hour window. Administrators and coaching staff should prioritize recovery strategies during this period, such as rest, sleep, nutrition, and potentially active recovery sessions, understanding that players are unlikely to be fully recovered.

• Individual player monitoring is crucial because external load doesn't tell the whole story. The amount players ran during the match didn't strongly predict their individual wellness changes. A substantial part of wellness variation was due to individual differences. Coaches and support staff should implement and consistently use simple daily self-report tools (like the 5-point scale used in the study) to understand how each player is feeling. This allows for more personalized recovery plans and adjustments to training based on individual readiness, rather than just relying on GPS data.

• Prioritize and support player sleep for recovery. Match play significantly disrupts sleep patterns and duration. Sleep is vital for physical and mental recovery. Coaches should educate players on good sleep hygiene practices. Administrators should consider how match schedules, travel, and team routines might negatively impact sleep and make efforts to minimize these disruptions where possible to ensure players get adequate rest after games.

Authors: Ivan Baptista, Andreas Alexandersen, Andreas K. Winther, Dag Johansen, Svein Arne Pettersen

You can read the entire article here.