The Relationship between Chronotype and Photoperiod in Soccer Players: Seasonal Differences

Abstract

It is understood that the difference in daily sunlight duration between summer and winter seasons in T�rkiye is approximately 4 hours 51 minutes. In T�rkiye, a country located on both the European and Asian continents, it is a matter of curiosity whether the difference in daily sunlight duration of almost 5 hours, specific to the seasons, can have a significant effect on chronotypes. Especially the fact that the display of sports performance varies throughout the day according to chronotypes is of significant importance in the sports science community. Therefore, in this research, the relationship between the season of birth and chronotypes of the soccer players participating in the Development Leagues affiliated with the Turkish Soccer Federation during the 2022-2023 season was examined. The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of 8,952 soccer players, while the sample size was composed of 402 soccer players with a 95% confidence level. The survey technique was used for data collection, and in this context, the "Turkish form of Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale" was employed. Based on the findings of this study, the conclusion reached is that the season of birth does not have a significant impact on the chronotypes of soccer players in the age range of 14-19. We believe that conducting further research in this field is important for a better understanding of chronotype mechanisms. It is recommended that future studies be conducted on different sample groups and in regions with varying altitudes.