Time-of-day effects in physical performances and psychological responses in young elite male handball players

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study examined the effect of time-of-day in psychological responses and short-term maximal performances in elite male handball players. Eighteen male handball players performed, in a counterbalanced order and at three time-of-day (i.e., in the morning at 10:00 h, in the afternoon at 14:00 h and in the evening at 18:00 h) the Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA) and the Ball-Throwing Velocity (BTV) test. Profile of mood states (POMS), simple (SRT) and choice (CRT) reaction times, and Stroop test to evaluate selective attention (SA) and Hooper questionnaires were assessed before the physical tests. Oral temperature (OT) was measured in the beginning of each testing session. The results revealed, for the POMS questionnaire, that the negative mood-states (anxiety, anger, confusion, depression, and fatigue) were higher in the morning while positive mood-state (vigor) was higher in the evening. Also, SRT, CRT and SA were better in the evening. For physical tests, BTV and performance during the RSA test were also better in the evening. OT was higher in the evening than in the morning and the afternoon. The findings suggest that, in elite handball players, cognitive and short-term maximal physical performances were better increased during the day from the morning to the evening.