Effect of a congested match schedule on immune-endocrine responses, technical performance and session-RPE in elite youth soccer players. Issue 24 (16th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moreira, Alexandre; Bradley, Paul; Carling, Christopher; Arruda, Ademir Felipe Schultz; Spigolon, Leandro M. P.; Franciscon, Clovis; Aoki, Marcelo Saldanha
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 34:Issue 24(2016)
• Page Start: 2255
• Page End: 2261
• Publication Date: 2016-12-16
• Subjects: Football -- testosterone -- cortisol -- saliva -- Immunoglobulin A; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1205753
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effects of a congested match schedule (7 matches played in 7 days) on steroid hormone concentrations, mucosal immunity, session rating of perceived exertion (S-RPE) and technical performance in 16 elite youth soccer players (14.8 ± 0.4 years; 170.6 ± 9.4 cm; 64.9 ± 7 kg). No change was observed for salivary cortisol concentration across match time points ( P = 0.33; effect size [ES] = 0.13–0.48). In contrast, there was a decrease in salivary testosterone and salivary IgA (SIgA) concentrations from the 1st compared with the last time point ( P = 0.01 and 0.001, ES = 0.42 and 0.67, respectively). The SIgA concentration varied across time points ( P < 0.001) with the highest value observed at the 3rd time point (rest day) (3rd vs all time point; ES = 0.47–0.73). No changes were observed for S-RPE across time points ( P > 0.05). A higher number of tackles and interceptions were observed during the 4th match vs 1st and 7th matches ( P < 0.001; ES = 2.25 and 1.90, respectively). The present data demonstrate that accumulated fatigue related to participation in a congested match schedule might induce a decrease in testosterone concentration in youth players and negatively affect their mucosal immunity and capacity to perform certain technical actions.