AUTHOR=Saidi Karim , Ben Abderrahman Abderraouf , Boullosa Daniel , Dupont Grégory , Hackney Anthony C. , Bideau Benoit , Pavillon Thomas , Granacher Urs , Zouhal Hassane 

TITLE=The Interplay Between Plasma Hormonal Concentrations, Physical Fitness, Workload and Mood State Changes to Periods of Congested Match Play in Professional Soccer Players

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00835

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2020.00835

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>The regular assessment of hormonal and mood state parameters in professional soccer are proposed as good indicators during periods of intense training and/or competition to avoid overtraining.</p></sec><sec><title>Objective</title><p>The aim of this study was to analyze hormonal, psychological, workload and physical fitness parameters in elite soccer players in relation to changes in training and match exposure during a congested period of match play.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Sixteen elite soccer players from a team playing in the first Tunisian soccer league were evaluated three times (T1, T2, and T3) over 12 weeks. The non-congested period of match play was from T1 to T2, when the players played 6 games over 6 weeks. The congested period was from T2 to T3, when the players played 10 games over 6 weeks. From T1 to T3, players performed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1), the repeated shuttle sprint ability test (RSSA), the countermovement jump test (CMJ), and the squat jump test (SJ). Plasma Cortisol (C), Testosterone (T), and the T/C ratio were analyzed at T1, T2, and T3. Players had their mood dimensions (tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, confusion, and a Total Mood Disturbance) assessed through the Profile of Mood State questionnaire (POMS). Training session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) was also recorded on a daily basis in order to quantify internal training load and elements of monotony and strain.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Significant performance declines (T1 &lt; T2 &lt; T3) were found for SJ performance (<italic>p</italic> = 0.04, effect size [ES] ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = 0.15−0.06, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = 0.24) from T1 to T3. YYIR1 performance improved significantly from T1 to T2 and declined significantly from T2 to T3 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.001, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = 0.24, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = −2.54). Mean RSSA performance was significantly higher (<italic>p</italic> = 0.019, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = −0.47, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = 1.15) in T3 compared with T2 and T1. Best RSSA performance was significantly higher in T3 when compared with T2 and T1 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.006, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = 0.47, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = −0.56), but significantly lower in T2 when compared with to T1. T and T/C were significantly lower in T3 when compared with T2 and T1 (T: <italic>p</italic> = 0.03, ES<sub>3</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = −0.51, ES<sub>3</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>1</sub> = −0.51, T/C: <italic>p</italic> = 0.017, ES<sub>3</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = −1.1, ES<sub>3</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>1</sub> = −1.07). Significant decreases were found for the vigor scores in T3 when compared to T2 and T1 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = 0.31, ES<sub>3</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = −1.25). A significant increase was found in fatigue scores in T3 as compared to T1 and T2 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = 0.43, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = 0.81). A significant increase was found from T1 &lt; T2 &lt; T3 intension score (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = 1.1, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = 0.2) and anger score (<italic>p</italic> = 0.03, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = 0.47, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = 0.33) over the study period. Total mood disturbance increased significantly (<italic>p</italic> = 0.02, ES<sub>1</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>2</sub> = 0.91, ES<sub>2</sub><sub>–</sub><sub>3</sub> = 1.1) from T1 to T3. Between T1-T2, significant relationships were observed between workload and changes in T (<italic>r</italic> = 0.66, <italic>p</italic> = 0.003), and T/C ratio (<italic>r</italic> = 0.62, <italic>p</italic> = 0.01). There were significant relationships between performance in RSSA<sub>best</sub> and training load parameters (workload: <italic>r</italic> = 0.52, <italic>p</italic> = 0.03; monotony: <italic>r</italic> = 0.62, <italic>p</italic> = 0.01; strain: <italic>r</italic> = 0.62, <italic>p</italic> = 0.009). Between T2-T3, there was a significant relationship between Δ% of total mood disturbance and Δ% of YYIR1 (<italic>r</italic> = −0.54; <italic>p</italic> = 0.04), RSSA<sub>best</sub> (<italic>r</italic> = 0.58, <italic>p</italic> = 0.01), SJ (<italic>r</italic> = −0,55, <italic>p</italic> = 0.01), T (<italic>r</italic> = 0.53; <italic>p</italic> = 0.03), and T/C (<italic>r</italic> = 0.5; <italic>p</italic> = 0.04).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>An intensive period of congested match play significantly compromised elite soccer players’ physical and mental fitness. These changes were related to psychological but not hormonal parameters; even though significant alterations were detected for selected measures. Mood monitoring could be a simple and useful tool to determine the degree of preparedness for match play during a congested period in professional soccer.</p></sec>