Recovery in Soccer

Abstract

In elite soccer, players are frequently required to play consecutive matches interspersed by 3 days and complete physical performance recovery may not be achieved. Incomplete recovery might result in underperformance and injury. During congested schedules, recovery strategies are therefore required to alleviate post-match fatigue, regain performance faster and reduce the risk of injury. This article is Part I of a subsequent companion review and deals with post-match fatigue mechanisms and recovery kinetics of physical performance (sprints, jumps, maximal strength and technical skills), cognitive, subjective and biochemical markers. The companion review will analyse recovery strategies used in contemporary professional soccer. Soccer involves many physically demanding activities including sprinting, changes in running speed, changes of direction, jumps and tackles, as well as technical actions such as dribbling, shooting and passing. These activities lead to a post-match fatigue that is linked to a combination of dehydration, glycogen depletion, muscle damage and mental fatigue. The magnitude of soccer match-induced fatigue, extrinsic factors (i.e. match result, quality of the opponent, match location, playing surface) and/or intrinsic factors (i.e. training status, age, gender, muscle fibre typology), potentially influence the time course of recovery. Recovery in soccer is a complex issue, reinforcing the need for future research to estimate the quantitative importance of fatigue mechanisms and identify influencing factors. Efficient and individualized recovery strategies may consequently be proposed.

Tracking Morning Fatigue Status Across In-Season Training Weeks in Elite Soccer Players

“…6 However, any effect of training and match load on DOMS and sleep quality, in particular the effects of match-play may materialise over a number of days rather than immediately following the session. 25 Collectively, previous observations examining daily sensitivity in elite soccer 6 and Australian Rules players 4,5 combined with the present findings suggest that attempts to fully examine the sensitivity of potential markers of fatigue to changes in training and match load should be undertaken over both acute (daily) and extended periods of time.…”

“…The time required to fully recovery following match play has been shown to vary markedly (24-72hr) depending on the nature of the physiological parameter assessed. 25 Furthermore, the rate of recovery is likely to be influenced by a myriad of factors including the inherent variability in match demands 31 and the athletes level of fitness 32 . Alongside the changes in perceived ratings of fatigue and DOMS, moderate-to-large (ES 0.6-1.4) statistical significant changes in ratings of sleep quality were also observed across the week with the highest and lowest levels of sleep quality observed during the evening of the fifth day post-match and the evening immediately following a match respectively.…”

Monitoring Fatigue During the In-Season Competitive Phase in Elite Soccer Players

“…25 Over the course of the 17-day period, training was prescribed by the coaches and followed a typical periodized cycle leading up to matches. 26 This was characterised by recovery days following the match, moderate to high loads after 3 to 4 days then moderate to light sessions leading into the forthcoming match.…”

Relationship between fluid loss variation and physical activity during official games in elite soccer players. [Relaciones entre la variación de pérdida de líquidos y la actividad física durante partidos oficiales en jugadores de fútbol de élite].

“…All these data confirm that the induced soccer match dehydration decreases performance in specific soccer tests. Furthermore, if match play dehydration would not affect players' activity, hydration strategies would remain determinant for the recovery process (Nedelec, McCall, Carling, Legall, Berthoin & Dupont, 2012). More investigations are needed in order to analyse real impact of hydration, or dehydration, on official match performance and to determine effects of hydration on recovery kinetics.…”