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Affiliation
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School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia. |
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Abstract
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PURPOSE: To examine the neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue responses to consecutive tag football [touch football] matches played on the same day and determine the relationship between fatigue and match running performance.
METHODS: Neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue responses of fifteen national tag football players were assessed prior to and during the 2014 State of Origin tournament. Global positioning systems (GPS) provided data on players match running performance and a vertical jump test and subjective questionnaire was used to assess player's neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue, respectively.
RESULTS: There were small to moderate reductions in the majority of match running performance variables over consecutive matches, including distance (ES=-0.81), high-speed running (HSR) distance (ES=-0.51), HSR efforts (ES=-0.64) and maximal accelerations (ES=-0.76). Pre-match vertical jump was initially below baseline values before the first match (ES=0.68-0.88). There were no substantial reductions in vertical jump performance from baseline values over consecutive matches, although there was a small decline from post-match two to post-match three (3.3%; ES=-0.45±0.62). There were progressive reductions in perceived well-being scores following matches one (ES=-0.38), two (ES=-0.70) and three (ES=-1.14). There were small to moderate associations between changes in fatigue measures and match running performance.
CONCLUSIONS: Perceptual fatigue accumulates over consecutive tag football matches although there were only marginal increases in neuromuscular fatigue. However, both neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue measures were found to contribute to reduced match running performance in the final match.
Language: en |