Introduction: Travel is a necessary demand for professional footballers, although there is little evidence on the effect of domestic in-season travel on player performance and recovery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of domestic travel on the physiological, perceptual and performance responses to home v away matches in professional (Australian) football players. Methods: Six male, football players from a professional A-League Club were recruited for this study. Following familiarisation, data was collected from 3 pairs of home and away games (n=6) involving the same three opposition teams (travel time = 5-8h). Data collection occurred on the 2 days prior, match day and 2 days following each match. Measures included urine specific gravity (USG) for hydration status, actimetry measures of sleep quantity and quality and subjective perceptions of sleep quality, fatigue, stress and muscle soreness. Match performance was determined from the result (win/draw/loss) and goal difference (goals for - goals against). Physical match load was determined via Global Positioning Satellite measures of movement demands, whilst technical performance was assessed from video coding of match technical outcomes (passes, tackles, possessions etc). Effect size analyses (Cohen`s d) were used to determine the magnitude of effect of home v away matches on performance and recovery. Results: Reduced match performance was evident during away matches with increased losses and goals conceded (1.2±v2.2±0.8 goals; d>1.0). Further, technical performance was reduced during away matches with fewer passes completed and increased turnovers, corners conceded and opposition attempts on goal (d>1.2). Physical performance during away matches resulted in an increased mean speed compared to home matches (119±8v111±6 m.min-1;d=1.6), with trivial effects (d<0.3) for playing duration (81±9v84±7min) or high-intensity running distance. Pre-match USG did not differ (d<0.3), but was higher 2 days following away matches (d=0.80), while sleep duration was lower 2 days following away matches (465±88v384±82min;d=1.3). Subjective sleep quality, stress and muscle soreness did not differ between conditions (d<0.3), although perceived fatigue was increased 2 days following away matches (d=0.9). Conclusion: Away matches resulted in inferior match outcomes, likely due to reduced technical performance alongside increased physical match loads; although, the domestic travel seems to have minimal physiological or perceptual effect to explain such outcomes. Following away matches, altered sleep patterns, hydration status and increased perceptions of fatigue were evident, suggesting an exacerbated post-match recovery, which may be of importance for ensuing weekly preparation cycles.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Julkaistu Tekijä Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator