The effect of exercise-induced fatigue and heat exposure on soccer-specific decision-making during high-intensity intermittent exercise

Abstract

Global warming and the globalisation of sport has increased the prevalence of sports competitions being held in hot environments. However, there is currently limited research investigating the impact of the heat on soccer-specific decision-making skills during exercise reflective of the physical demands of match-play. Therefore, the effects of heat exposure on physical and soccer-specific decision-making performance, biological markers (i.e., metanephrines), appraisal (i.e., challenge vs. threat) and affective states, during prolonged high-intensity intermittent exercise were investigated. Nine well-trained male soccer players completed a 92-min cycling intermittent sprint protocol (CISP), whilst simultaneously responding to a series of soccer-specific decision-making trials at various time points, in two temperature conditions: hot (32°C, 50%rh) and temperate (18°C, 50%rh). Results showed that decision-making score (p = .030) was impaired in the hot compared to the temperate condition. There was a reduced workload in the second half during the hot condition (p = .016), which coincided with a heightened threat state (p = .007) and more unpleasant feelings (p = .008) experienced in the hot, compared to temperate, condition. Furthermore, plasma normetanephrine (NMET) was higher at half-time (p = .012) and post-CISP (p ≤ .001). Also, plasma metanephrine (MET) was higher post-CISP (p = .009) in the hot compared to temperate condition, reflecting a heightened stress response. Our findings highlight the need for practitioners to consider the detrimental effects heat exposure can have on both physical and decision-making performance when looking to facilitate performance in hot conditions.

Impact of temperature on physical and cognitive performance in elite female football players during intermittent exercise

“…The results of the present study showed that exposure to heat led to a decrease in anticipation performance in elite female players. Our results mirror those reported by Donnan et al 2 who examined the effects of hot (32°C, 50% rh) and mild environmental temperature (18°C, 50% rh) exposure on physical performance and soccer-specific decision-making in male football players after completing a 92-min intermittent cycling sprint protocol. The results showed that the decision-making was impaired in the hot compared to the mild temperature condition.…”

“…Our findings support previous research, which showed that HR was higher during hot conditions, when compared to mild temperature exposure across all the cycling intermittent sprint protocol. 2 Additionally, the gradual increase of the players' HR across the intermittent exercise protocol suggests that female players were experiencing an increase in their physical exertion levels throughout the protocol, suggesting that the exercise intensity and cardiovascular demands increased progressively, ending with physical stress. 54 Furthermore, the observed differences in average HR between hot and mild temperatures emphasized the influence of environment on cardiac response during exercise.…”

“…12 Unsurprisingly, exposure to a hot environmental temperature impairs soccerspecific decision-making. 2 Moreover, there have been some attempts to study how anticipation is affected by increasing physical and physiological demands. 13 Physiological workload and the tactical expertise of football players have been shown to interact, impacting perceptual-cognitive function (e.g., visual search behavior) in game situations.…”

“…It is well stablished that a hot environmental temperature significantly influences physical and physiological variables, 15 dehydration levels, autonomic nervous system assessed throughout heart rate variability (HRV) indices, 16 muscle strength loss and power, 17 and decision accuracy. 2,18 In contrast, the exercise-cognition interaction in high-demanding physiological and thermal environments has not been well-documented. 2,3 Scientists have proposed an inverted-U relationship between exercise intensity and cognitive performance, 19 with moderate-and high-intensity exercise increasing and impairing performance, respectively.…”

“…2,18 In contrast, the exercise-cognition interaction in high-demanding physiological and thermal environments has not been well-documented. 2,3 Scientists have proposed an inverted-U relationship between exercise intensity and cognitive performance, 19 with moderate-and high-intensity exercise increasing and impairing performance, respectively. Similarly, Attentional Control Theory (ACT) 20 was proposed to clarify how attentional resources and subsequent performances are influenced under increasing levels of stress during performers.…”