Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2011; 32(4): 259-265
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1269894
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Seasonal Changes in Stress Indicators in High Level Football

O. Faude1 , 2 , M. Kellmann3 , 4 , T. Ammann2 , R. Schnittker2 , T. Meyer1 , 2
  • 1Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany; FIFA – Medical Centre of Excellence
  • 2Institute of Sports Medicine, Department of Sports and Health, University of Paderborn, Germany
  • 3Ruhr-University of Bochum, Faculty of Sport Science, Germany
  • 4The University of Queensland, School of Human Movement Studies, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision November 13, 2010

Publication Date:
26 January 2011 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

This study aimed at describing changes in stress and performance indicators throughout a competitive season in high level football. 15 players (19.5±3.0 years, 181±5 cm, 75.7±9.0 kg) competing under professional circumstances were tested at baseline and 3 times during the season 2008/09 (in-season 1, 2, 3). Testing consisted of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (Total Stress and Recovery score), vertical jump tests (counter movement and drop jump (DJ)), and a maximal ramp-like running test. Average match exposure was higher during a 3-weeks period prior to in-season 3 compared to in-season 1 and 2 (1.5 vs. 1 h/week, p=0.05). Total Stress score was elevated at in-season 1 and 2 compared to baseline (p<0.01) with a further increase at in-season 3 (p<0.03; generalized eta squared (η2 g)=0.37). Total Recovery score was decreased at in-season 1 and 3 compared to baseline (p<0.05; η2 g=0.21). Maximal running velocity (Vmax) and jumping heights were not significantly affected (η2 g≤0.04). Changes in DJ height and Vmax between baseline and in-season 3 were correlated with the corresponding changes in Total Stress score (r=−0.55 and r=−0.61, p<0.03). Usual match exposure during a professional football season does not induce relevant changes in performance indicators. Accumulated stress and a lack of recovery towards the end of a season might be indicated by psychometric deteriorations.

Key words

soccer - overreaching - fatigue - performance - match exposure - recovery

References

  • 1 Bakeman R. Recommended effect size statistics for repeated measures designs.  Behav Res Methods. 2005;  37 379-384
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Coutts AJ, Reaburn P, Piva TJ, Murphy A. Changes in selected biochemical, muscular strength, power, and endurance measures during deliberate overreaching and tapering in rugby league players.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 116-124
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Coutts AJ, Reaburn P, Piva TJ, Rowsell GJ. Monitoring for overreaching in rugby league players.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007;  99 313-324
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Coutts AJ, Wallace LK, Slattery KM. Monitoring changes in performance, physiology, biochemistry, and psychology during overreaching and recovery in triathletes.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 125-134
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Dvorak J, Junge A, Chomiak J, Graf-Baumann T, Peterson L, Rosch D, Hodgson R. Risk factor analysis for injuries in football players. Possibilities for a prevention program.  Am J Sports Med. 2000;  28 S69-S74
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Ekstrand J, Hagglund M, Walden M. Injury incidence and injury patterns in professional football: the UEFA injury study.  Br J Sports Med.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Ekstrand J, Walden M, Hagglund M. A congested football calendar and the wellbeing of players: correlation between match exposure of European footballers before the World Cup 2002 and their injuries and performances during that World Cup.  Br J Sports Med. 2004;  38 493-497
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Faude O, Meyer T, Federspiel B, Kindermann W. Verletzungen im Profifußball – eine Analyse auf der Basis von Medieninformationen [Injuries in elite German football – a media-based analysis].  Dtsch Z Sportmed. 2009;  60 139-144
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Filaire E, Bernain X, Sagnol M, Lac G. Preliminary results on mood state, salivary testosterone: cortisol ratio and team performance in a professional soccer team.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;  86 179-184
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Filaire E, Lac G, Pequignot JM. Biological, hormonal, and psychological parameters in professional soccer players throughout a competitive season.  Percept Mot Skills. 2003;  97 1061-1072
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Flanagan EP, Ebben WP, Jensen RL. Reliability of the reactive strength index and time to stabilization during depth jumps.  J Strength Cond Res. 2008;  22 1677-1682
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Fry RW, Morton AR, Keast D. Periodisation and the prevention of overtraining.  Can J Sport Sci. 1992;  17 241-248
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Gregson W, Drust B, Atkinson G, Salvo VD. Match-to-match variability of high-speed activities in premier league soccer.  Int J Sports Med. 2010;  31 237-242
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Hagglund M, Walden M, Ekstrand J. Injuries among male and female elite football players.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2008;  Published Online First: 11 May 2008. doi:2010.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00861.x
    Google Scholar
  • 15 Halson SL, Jeukendrup AE. Does overtraining exist? An analysis of overreaching and overtraining research.  Sports Med. 2004;  34 967-981
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
    Google Scholar
  • 17 Hopkins WG, Schabort EJ, Hawley JA. Reliability of power in physical performance tests.  Sports Med. 2001;  31 211-234
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Junge A, Dvorak J, Chomiak J, Peterson L, Graf-Baumann T. Medical history and physical findings in football players of different ages and skill levels.  Am J Sports Med. 2000;  28 S16-S21
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Jurimae J, Maestu J, Purge P, Jurimae T. Changes in stress and recovery after heavy training in rowers.  J Sci Med Sport. 2004;  7 335-339
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Kellmann M. Preventing overtraining in athletes in high-intensity sports and stress/recovery monitoring.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010;  20 (suppl 2) 95-102
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Kellmann M, Altenburg D, Lormes W, Steinacker JM. Assessing stress and recovery during preparation for the World Championships in rowing.  Sport Psychologist. 2001;  15 151-167
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Kellmann M, Kallus KW. Mood, recovery-stress state, and regeneration. In:, Lehmann M, Foster C, Gastmann U, Keizer H, Steinacker JM, (eds) Overload, Performance Incompetence, and Regeneration in Sport. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers; 1999: 101-117
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Kellmann M, Kallus KW. The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes: User Manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2001
    Google Scholar
  • 24 Kraemer WJ, French DN, Paxton NJ, Hakkinen K, Volek JS, Sebastianelli WJ, Putukian M, Newton RU, Rubin MR, Gomez AL, Vescovi JD, Ratamess NA, Fleck SJ, Lynch JM, Knuttgen HG. Changes in exercise performance and hormonal concentrations over a big ten soccer season in starters and nonstarters.  J Strength Cond Res. 2004;  18 121-128
    Google Scholar
  • 25 Leger L, Boucher R. An indirect continuous running multistage field test: the Universite de Montreal track test.  Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1980;  5 77-84
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Meeusen R, Duclos M, Gleeson M, Rietjens G, Steinacker J, Urhausen A. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the overtraining syndrome. ECSS position statement ‘Task Force’.  Eur J Sport Sci. 2006;  6 1-14
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Moir GL, Garcia A, Dwyer GB. Intersession reliability of kinematic and kinetic variables during vertical jumps in men and women.  Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2009;  4 317-330
    Google Scholar
  • 28 Naessens G, Chandler TJ, Kibler WB, Driessens M. Clinical usefulness of nocturnal urinary noradrenaline excretion patterns in the follow-up of training processes in high-level soccer players.  J Strength Cond Res. 2000;  14 125-131
    Google Scholar
  • 29 Rampinini E, Bishop D, Marcora SM, Ferrari Bravo D, Sassi R, Impellizzeri FM. Validity of simple field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 228-235
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Urhausen A, Kindermann W. Diagnosis of overtraining: what tools do we have?.  Sports Med. 2002;  32 95-102
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Young WB, Pryor JF, Wilson GJ. Effect of instructions on characteristics of countermovement and drop jump performance.  J Strength Cond Res. 1995;  9 232-236
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Correspondence

Dr. Oliver FaudePhD 

Saarland University

Institute of Sports and

Preventive Medicine

Campus Bldg. B8.2

66123 Saarbrücken

Germany

Phone: +49/681/302 70405

Fax: +49/681/302 4296

Email: o.faude@mx.uni-saarland.de

      >