Changes of the psychophysical state and feeling of wellness of professional soccer players during pre-season and in-season periods

ABSTRACT

Perceived changes due to training monotony, strain, sleep, stress, fatigue, muscle soreness and the influence of specific training sessions on the affective valence were explored in professional soccer players. Seventeen players completed the Hooper questionnaire, the ratings of perceived exertion and feeling scale (FS) every training/match day before and during the soccer season. Higher players’ training loads were recorded during pre-season when compared with in-season period (2558.1 ± 262.4 vs. 1642.8 ± 169.3 a.u., p < 0.01; respectively). The ratings of sleep, stress, fatigue and muscle soreness in pre-season were higher than those observed during in-season (p < 0.01) whereas the feeling score was lower (p < 0.01). Furthermore, training sessions, including technical/tactical work, induced an improved feeling score but linked with a lower training load when compared with sessions focus on physical emphasis (p < 0.01). Pre-season period of training induces a significantly more strenuous and exhausting demands on professional soccer players compared with the in-season period at the elite level.

KEYWORDS:

• Monotony
• strain
• feeling scale
• fatigue
• muscle soreness

Acknowledgments

No sources of funding were used to assist the preparation of this article. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article. The authors would like to thank all of the participants and their coaches for their understanding and availability in the completion of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.