The independent effects of match location, match result and the quality of opposition on subjective wellbeing in under 23 soccer players: a case study

ABSTRACT

This study examined if subjective wellbeing in soccer players was affected by match location, match result and opposition quality before a match (PRE), 1 day after (POST-1), and 3 days after a match (POST-3). Eleven professional male soccer players from the under 23 squad playing in the Premier League 2 division completed a wellbeing questionnaire before and after 17 matches. Match training load (session-rating perceived exertion) was not different, regardless of the location, result, or quality of opposition faced (P > 0.05). Subjective wellbeing was not different at PRE (P > 0.05); however, at POST-1 and POST-3, stress and mood were ≥20% lower after playing away from home or losing (P < 0.05). Stress, mood and sleep were ≥12% worse after playing against a higher-level opposition at POST-1. Coaches need to be aware that match location, match result and the quality of the opposition can influence post-match wellbeing, irrespective of match load.

KEYWORDS:

• Wellbeing
• soccer
• sport
• winning
• home

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank the football club and the players who took part in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no funding for this study and report no conflict of interest.