Abstract
The current study examined differences in heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) across student-athlete eligibility classifications within a men’s soccer team. The study also aimed to identify any differences in HRV while competing at home or away. Data collection covered an entire collegiate season, commencing in the preseason and concluding upon elimination from the NCAA Soccer tournament. Comparisons of HR and HRV, paired with self-reported subjective measures, were documented between student-athlete eligibility classifications, home versus away games, and based on soccer position (forward, midfielder, defender, goalkeeper). HR and HRV were similar based on student-athlete eligibility. Heart rate exhibited a small, but statistically significant decrease (β = −1.7 bpm (95% CI: −2.9, 0.57), p = 0.003) for the away games relative to home. HRV showed a statistically significant increase in the away game setting (β = 2.1 (95% CI: 0.78, 3.38), p = 0.002). No difference in HRV was observed across eligibility classification. This lack of difference may be attributed to a different perception of stress amongst male athletes. Athletes also exhibited a reduced HRV at home, likely as an indication of their readiness to compete paired with an increased self-confidence, given there was no difference in any subjective measures of mood or stress or between games played away or at home.
Highlights
Participating in sport and education is highly stressful [1,2,3,4]
Athletes across different eligibility classifications and positions were of similar (p > 0.05)Ahtehilgehtet,swaecirgohsts, adnifdfebroednty ecolimgipbiolsitiytiocnla(sTsaifiblceat1i)o.ns and positions were of similar (p > 0.05) height, weight, and body composition (Table 1)
Results from this study suggest male collegiate soccer players exhibit a similar cardiac autonomic response to games throughout the collegiate season, regardless of eligibility classification or position played
Summary
Collegiate student-athletes are susceptible to experiencing multiple stressors from both their sporting and academic commitments [5]. While sport involvement has been shown to alleviate stress [6,7], research suggests that athletic participation itself can become an additional stressor amongst collegiate student-athletes [6,8]. Student-athletes in their final year of eligibility observe reduced stress levels, with the experience gained over their collegiate career helping them better manage their time, academic and sporting workload [9]. Despite it being well known that student-athletes face a myriad of stressors, less is known regarding how collegiate athletes manage the added stress of a congested match schedule and the travel that accompanies collegiate sport
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