Match Schedule Research Articles

The Impact of a Congested Match Schedule (Due to the COVID-19 Lockdown) on Creatine Kinase (CK) in Elite Football Players Using GPS Tracking Technology

The aim was to analyse the consequences of a congested schedule (due to the COVID-19 lockdown) on creatine kinase (CK) in elite football players using GPS tracking technology. A total of 17 elite football players were monitored in training and competition with a global positioning system. Variables including total distance, high-intensity distance, and distance acceleration and deceleration were analysed. Different measurements of serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration were performed on match day (MD) and at 24 h (MD+1), 48 h (MD+2), and 72 h (MD+3) after each match to study the muscle damage of each individual player caused during the match. The results showed a significant increase in physical demands in training (in relative terms regarding the match) at MD+3 compared to MD+1 and MD+2. Furthermore, at +72 h, CK decreases to a value almost the same as that before MD. On the other hand, the players with lower demands for high-intensity actions in the match showed a higher reduction in the concentration of CK at MD+3 compared to MD+1 and MD+2 (p < 0.05). It became evident that players with high-intensity demand and a high number of accelerations and decelerations need more time to assimilate the match load and can remain in a state of muscle fatigue for up to 3 days. In addition, a congested schedule can lead to a state of chronic fatigue in elite football players, limiting physical performance and possibly increasing the potential risk of injury for football players.

Prediction of potential energy on player scoring trend in tennis match based on Hopfield neural network model

In tennis, it is very important to catch the direction and trend of the match when the score happens. This paper aims to establish a mathematical model to predict the dynamic change of match progress and the appearance of match points, and explain the role of "momentum" in the match. By mining the real-time match data of 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Open, based on Hopfield neural network and entropy weight method, the technical level, psychological pressure and fatigue level of players in the match are selected as the influencing factors, and the mathematical model between the "momentum" of players and the change of the match flow is established, and the change of the match schedule can be predicted more accurately. The change of momentum may affect the motivation of players, and the choice of a reasonable strategy may be a magic weapon to win the match. It is hoped that this can help the pre-competition training of tennis players and promote the vigorous development of tennis events.

On head-to-head results as tie-breaker and consequent opportunities for collusion

Abstract Accepted by: Phil Scarf The outcome of some football matches has benefited both teams at the expense of a third team because head-to-head results were used for breaking ties. Inspired by these examples, our mathematical analysis identifies all possible collusion opportunities caused by this particular ranking rule in a single round-robin tournament with four teams. According to a simulation model based on the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, merely the tie-breaking rule increases the probability of reaching a situation vulnerable to collusion by between 11.5 and 14.8 percentage points. This risk can scarcely be mitigated by a static match schedule. Therefore, tournament organizers are strongly encouraged to choose goal difference as the primary tie-breaking rule, similar to the official policy of FIFA.

Time efficiency and match optimization in scheduling Pencak Silat matches: a case study of the Sleman Regency Student Pencak Silat Championship in 2023

The issue of this research is that many pencak silat matches in Indonesia still use manual calculations in several dis-tricts/regencys, then the calculation data is inputted into the system. This will take a lot of time, so the pencak silat match schedule spends a lot of time. The data used is the number of parties at the Sleman Regency Student Pencak Silat Championship in 2023. This research aims to find calculations to maximize the number of parties/matches/match numbers per day in a martial arts match. The method that can be used is the Preemptive Multiple Bounded Knapsack Problem (PMBKP). PMBKP involves distributing the quanti-ty of different types of items to a group of knapsacks with their respective priorities and capacity limits. The PMBKP results obtained in the 2023 Sleman District Pencak Silat Championship problem using the Branch and Bound algorithm are 175 parties on the first day, 133 parties on the second day, 128 parties on the third day, 127 parties on the fourth day, and 72 parties on the fifth day. These results can be said to be effective if applied to pencak silat matches that aim to nurture achievements, such as introductions and district/regency level matches. Keywords: Pencak Silat, Competition, Sports Schedule

Seasonal variation of physical, perceptual, and cognitive function measures in professional academy soccer players

Soccer match play and training have been documented to significantly impair players' physical function and affect their perceptual wellness, indicating the necessity of evaluating the response to mixed-content training across a soccer season (Deely et al., 2022, Front Physiol, 13, 911009; Brownstein et al., 2017, Front Physiol, 8, 831; Thomas et al., 2017, Med Sci Sports Exer, 49, 955-964). This study aimed to assess seasonal variation in physical, perceptual, and cognitive functions in response to training among professional academy soccer players, to identify whether players develop increased physical robustness or encounter greater physiological and psychological impairments due to the demanding training and match schedule. Ethical approval was granted for sixteen academy players (age: 18 ± 1 years) to undergo a range of tests at three seasonal points - early, mid, and late - at baseline, immediately post-strenuous training, and at 24, 48, and 72 h. The testing regime encompassed physical performance (countermovement jump [CMJ], ten-to-five repeated jump test [10/5 RJT]), cognitive function (Stroop task, Four-Choice Reaction Time [FCRT] test, Corsi Block Test), and perceptual responses via an adapted Short Questionnaire of Fatigue (SQF). Linear mixed modelling (LMM) was employed to analyse the impact of season phase and testing time-points on training response, incorporating testing measures as dependent variables. Jump performance varied across time-points, with performance maintained immediately post-training, although displaying decrements at 24 h (P < 0.001), 48 h (P < 0.01), and remained unresolved at 72 h (P < 0.05). Season phase exerted a fixed effect on physical function, with vertical jumps decreasing from both early- (P = 0.033, CMJ; P < 0.001, 10/5 RJT) and mid-season (P < 0.001, CMJ; P < 0.001, 10/5 RJT) to late-season. Perceptual measures—soreness, fatigue, and readiness to train—varied across the week, with immediate post-session impairments recovering by 48 and 72 hours. Cognitive function remained relatively stable across the training week, with only a decline in Corsi Block performance noted immediately post-session. An improvement in FCRT from early to mid-season was observed, though accuracy decreased from early to late-season. No interaction between season phase and training week time-points was found across any variable, indicating a consistent training response throughout the season, despite substantial impairments in physical function and declines in perceptual wellness observed post-training. The decrease in physical function during the late-season phase underscores the need for enhanced recovery focus and training load monitoring as the season progresses.

Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected injury in football? Example of a professional football team

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the injuries of football players faced with the isolation and lack of training caused by COVID-19 and an intense match tempo after stress and uncertainty between pre- and post-pandemic seasons. Methods: Injury follow-up data (number, time, severity, type, location, tissue of interest, side, mechanism, rule violation, and recurrence) of a professional football team in Turkey for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 seasons were analysed. Results: In the 2019-2020 season, there were a total of 23 injuries, which increased after the pandemic. With a tighter match schedule, there were 31 injuries in the 2020-2021 season and 51 in the 2021-2022 season. The injury rate per match also increased to 0.53, 0.70, and 1.08, respectively. Injury severity, location of injury, tissues involved (p<0.05), mechanism of injury, and rules violations (p<0.001) were significantly different between seasons. Conclusion: The isolation period caused by the pandemic and the tight match schedules affected injury rates per match and injury characteristics. These effects continued in the post-pandemic season.

What is the Injury Incidence and Profile in Professional Male Ice Hockey? A Systematic Review.

Professional male ice hockey is characterized by a congested in-season match schedule and by different scenarios where the whole body is exposed to great internal and external forces. Consequently, injuries occur from head to toe. However, there is a lack of data synthesis regarding the injury incidence and profile in this population. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to quantify the injury incidence rates in professional male ice hockey. Systematic Review. The electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest-Sport medicine & Education Index, and Pro-Quest Dissertation and Thesis were searched utilizing terms related to ice hockey and injuries. Studies were included if they provided the incidence of injury in professional male hockey players and reported injuries in terms of time lost. The modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale for cohort studies and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology - Sports Injury and Illness Surveillance Statement were used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Eleven studies were included in the review. Match injury incidence ranged from 38 to 88.6 injuries/1000 hours of exposure, whereas training injury incidence varied from 0.4 to 2.6 injuries/1000 hours of exposure. Injuries of traumatic origin accounted for 76% to 96.6% of all injuries, with contusions and lacerations being the most common. Severe injuries accounted for 7.8% - 20% of all injuries. The lower extremities were the most susceptible to injury, comprising 27% to 53.7% of all reported injuries. Professional male ice hockey players are exposed to a substantial risk of injury during competitions, with lower extremities being the most commonly affected body part. The majority of injuries are traumatic and severe injuries account for a notable portion of overall injury cases.

Tournament schedules and incentives in a double round‐robin tournament with four teams

AbstractIn a round‐robin tournament, a team may lack the incentive to win if its final rank does not depend on the outcome of the matches still to be played. This paper introduces a classification scheme to determine these weakly (where one team is indifferent) or strongly (where both teams are indifferent) stakeless matches in a double round‐robin contest with four teams. The probability that such matches arise can serve as a novel fairness criterion to compare and evaluate match schedules. Our approach is illustrated by the UEFA Champions League group stage. A simulation model is built to compare the 12 valid schedules for the group matches. Some schedules are shown to be dominated by other schedules. It is found that the strongest team should play at home in the last round against one of the middle teams, depending on the preferences of the tournament organiser. Choosing an optimal sequence of matches with respect to the proposed metric can help to avoid uninteresting matches.

Effect of Match Schedule Density on Self-Reported Wellness and Sleep in Referees During the Rugby World Cup.

To examine the effect of match schedule on self-reported wellness and sleep in rugby union referees during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Following an observational design, 18 international-level male referees participating in the 2019 Rugby World Cup completed a daily questionnaire to quantify wellness status (sleep quality, mood, stress, fatigue, muscle soreness, and total wellness) and sleep characteristics (bedtime, wake-up time, and time in bed) from the previous night across the tournament. Linear mixed models and effect sizes (Hedges gav) assessed differences in wellness and sleep characteristics between prematch and postmatch days surrounding single-game and 2-game congested match schedules (prematch1, postmatch1, prematch2, and postmatch2 days). During regular schedules, all self-reported wellness variables except stress were reduced (gav = 0.33-1.05, mean difference -0.32 to -1.21 arbitrary units [AU]) and referees went to bed later (1.08, 1:07h:min) and spent less time in bed (-0.78, 00:55h:min) postmatch compared with prematch days. During congested schedules, only wellness variables differed across days, with total wellness reduced on postmatch1 (-0.88, -3.56AU) and postmatch2 (-0.67, -2.70AU) days, as well as mood (-1.01, -0.56AU) and fatigue (-0.90, -1.11AU) reduced on postmatch1 days compared with prematch days. Referees were susceptible to acute reductions in wellness on days following matches regardless of schedule. However, only single-game regular match schedules negatively impacted the sleep characteristics of referees. Targeted strategies to maximize wellness status and sleep opportunities in referees considering the match schedule faced should be explored during future Rugby World Cup competitions.

Ultimate cricket experience: Dynamic web app for a real-time scoring system in university cricket

Cricket, a globally popular team sport, involves eleven players and encompasses both batting and bowling skills, with the objective of scoring runs and dismissing the opposition's batsmen. The sport has complex rules and demands skill, technique, and teamwork. Cricket enjoys a significant following worldwide and has produced iconic players. It has evolved with shorter formats and tournaments, attracting a global audience. The " Ultimate Cricket Experience: Dynamic Web App for Real-Time Scoring System in University Cricket” project aims to develop a web application specifically designed for university cricket sports. The main goal of the project is to develop a dynamic web application that provides real-time cricket scorecards for cricket enthusiasts, offering an immersive and engaging experience across all active cricket matches. By providing a user-friendly platform that makes it simple for users to stay up to date with live scores, statistics, and important match highlights, this program strives to satisfy the ardent love of cricket fans. The strategic implementation of the MERN stack, combining MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js, ensures a robust, scalable, and modern solution for developing the real-time scorecard system. This combination of technologies offers a robust and scalable solution for developing A Real-time Cricket Scorecard System. The key features of the web application include a live scorecard that provides real-time updates on ongoing matches, and comprehensive match details such as team information, player statistics, and match schedules. The platform also offers university sports news, sports event information, and other relevant details to keep users informed and engaged with the cricketing activities within the university.

Injury prevention strategies at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup display a multifactorial approach and highlight subjective wellness measurements

ObjectiveTo report the injury prevention programs utilised by top-level female footballers competing internationally. MethodsAn online survey was administered to physicians of the 24 competing national teams at the 2019 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup. The survey included 4 sections regarding perceptions and practices concerning non-contact injuries: (1) risk factors, (2) screening tests and monitoring tools, (3) preventative strategies, and (4) reflection on their World Cup experience. ResultsFollowing responses from 54% of teams, the most common injuries encountered included muscle strains, ankle sprains, and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. The study also revealed the most important injury risk factors during the FIFA 2019 World Cup. Intrinsic risk factors include accumulated fatigue, previous injury, and strength endurance. Extrinsic risk factors include reduced recovery time between matches, congested match schedule, and the number of club team matches played. The 5 most used tests for risk factors were flexibility, joint mobility, fitness, balance, and strength. Monitoring tools commonly used were subjective wellness, heart rate, minutes/matches played, and daily medical screening. Specific strategies to limit the risk of an anterior cruciate ligament injury included the FIFA 11+ program and proprioception training. ConclusionThe present study revealed multifactorial approaches to injury prevention strategies for women's national football teams at the FIFA 2019 World Cup. Challenges to injury prevention program implementation reflect time limitations, schedule uncertainties, and varying club team recommendations. Level of evidenceIV.

Effect of mental fatigue on decision-making skill during simulated congested match schedule in professional soccer athletes

Effect of mental fatigue on decision-making skill during simulated congested match schedule in professional soccer athletes

Injury characteristics in Norwegian male professional football: A comparison between a regular season and a season in the pandemic.

The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic forced the Norwegian male premier league football season to reschedule, reducing the fixture calendar substantially. Previous research has shown that a congested match schedule can affect injury rates in professional football. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the Norwegian premier league teams suffered more injuries in the more match congested 2020 season than in the regular 2019-season. We invited all teams having participated in both seasons to export their injury data. Only teams that used the same medical staff to register injuries in both seasons were included, and to maximize data comparability between seasons, we applied a time-loss injury definition only. Seven of 13 teams agreed to participate and exported their injury data. Both seasons had 30 game weeks, but the 2020 season was 57 days shorter than the 2019 season. The match injury incidence did not differ significantly [incidence rate ratio 0.76 (0.48-1.20; p = 0.24) in the 2020 season compared to the 2019 season. Furthermore, we found no differences in the number of injuries, days lost to injury, matches missed to injury, or injury severity. We could not detect any differences between the two seasons, suggesting the congested match calendar combined with the safety measures in the 2020 season can be a safe alternative in future seasons.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Solutions to the Physical Fitness Challenge.

In 2022, the FIFA World Cup has been scheduled to take place in Qatar in November and December, months which coincide with the in-season period of the European soccer season. This will be challenging for the staff of the participating national teams and the domestic clubs to which participating players are attached. The aim of this letter to the editor is to propose solutions on how to manage the associated challenges. Regular training and competition over the course of a season in European professional soccer is generally characterized by a pre-competition preparation period of five to six weeks, followed by two competition phases, interspersed with a winter break (Eliakim et al., 2018). Certain leagues such as the English Premier League do not typically have a winter break meaning that games are played almost continuously across the season. During World Cup years, there is usually an average of four to five weeks between the end of national domestic championships and the start of the World Cup tournament (Table 1, Figure 1) which traditionally takes place during the off-season period. However, in 2022, the FIFA World Cup has been scheduled to take place in November and December, months which coincide with the in-season period of the European soccer season (Figure 1). With the World Cup being staged during this part of the season, many national team players (notably those in the major European Leagues) will have just one week of preparation between the last match of their domestic leagues and the start of the World Cup tournament (November 20th, 2022). More precisely, the major European soccer leagues will interrupt match schedules between November 9th and 13th with differences in the number of games completed at this time of the season ranging from 14 to 17 across the various leagues (Table 2). The physical and mental demands placed on modern professional players have steadily risen over recent years due to an increase in the number of matches played during congested periods across the season (Anderson et al., 2016). Since the number of matches is not evenly distributed across the typical 40-week season, players can often compete in as many as three matches in a seven-day period. Aside from the physical and mental demands that are imposed during a match, players might experience insufficient recovery between these games; in part due to extensive travelling which can disrupt the sleep/wake cycle (Lastella et al., 2019). Indeed, poor quality of sleep and the stress induced by a match can negatively affect physical fitness and may even increase the risk of sustaining injuries and/or infections (Clemente et al., 2021) in the period leading up to the World Cup. National teams are composed of players from different leagues who have varying levels of exposure to match-play (e.g., starters, non-starters) in terms of the average weekly volume of soccer matches at their clubs (“Rapports - Observatoire du football CIES”). Moreover, both starters and non-starters are exposed to different external match and training loads (Anderson et al., 2016). External loads have previously been defined as the overall volume of activity that a player performs during both training sessions and matches (Ravé et al., 2020). There is evidence that this metric correlates with a player’s physical fitness status (Clemente et al., 2019) and their injury risk (Malone et al., 2017). Accordingly, it will be challenging for national teams to manage the fitness of players such that they are physically ready to play at the World Cup tournament. This is especially applicable to individuals who play in the major European leagues and we note a significant contrast between European match schedules and those on other continents. For example, in Major League Soccer (MLS) in North America, match schedules will be interrupted from November 5th, 15 days before the World Cup tournament begins. Similarly, in the Japanese J-League in Asia, Saudi Pro League and Qatar Star League, matches will be interrupted one month before the World Cup tournament begins, leaving more time for players on these continents to prepare. It is also important to note that the French, Spanish and English domestic championships will resume their match schedules on December 27th which is just ten days after the end of the World Cup (Figure 1). Clubs will clearly want their players to return uninjured and with sufficient fitness levels to resume domestic competition but these goals could be compromised by the aforementioned scheduling of the World Cup tournament.

Prolonged restricted training, fixture congestion and player rotation: What the COVID-19 pandemic taught us about injury risk in professional collision sport

ObjectivesThe COVID19-induced suspension of the 2019-20 professional England rugby union season resulted in players being exposed to an extended restricted training period, coupled with a congested match schedule once competition resumed. We assessed the impact of these changes on match and training injuries in the final 20-weeks of the season following competition resumption. DesignEpidemiological study. MethodsThe 2019-20 season was compared to the previous three seasons (2016-19). ResultsThere was no significant difference in the mean incidence, severity and burden of training and match injuries in 2019-20 compared to 2016-19 period mean. The 2019-20 post-suspension mean match injury rate [77/1000 h (95%CIs [confidence intervals]: 67-89)] was comparable to the 2019-20 pre-suspension [93/1000 h (95%CIs: 85-101)] and significantly lower than the 2016-19 equivalent post-suspension period [97/1000 h (95CIs: 90-104) IRR [incidence rate ratio] 0.8 p=0.002]. In the 2019-20 season, there was a significantly higher rate of training injury post-suspension in comparison to pre-suspension [3.8/1000 h (95CIs: 3.3-4.4) vs 2.7/1000 h (95% CIs: 2.5-3.1) IRR 1.4 p=0.005]. There was no significant difference in the overall incidence, severity or burden of injuries sustained in fixtures with shorter (<6 days) turnarounds but there was a significantly higher burden of soft tissue injuries. ConclusionsThis is the first study to assess the effect of restricted training on injury risk in collision sports. Players were at an increased risk of training injury when returning from the suspension, but 10-weeks of preparatory training meant the incidence of match injury was not higher when competition resumed.

Influence of Congested Match Schedules, Pre-Match Well-Being and Level of Opponents on Match Loads during World Rugby Women's Sevens Series.

This study aimed at assessing (1) the effect of congested match schedules on match loads and well-being as well as (2) pre-match well-being and level of opponents on match loads in elite women’s rugby sevens. Eleven players of the Brazilian women’s rugby sevens national team were investigated across three 2019-20 HSVC World Rugby Women’s Seven Series tournaments to assess: (1) within-tournament match-to-match changes in various external and internal match load measures; (2) daily changes in players’ well-being collected before the commencement of a tournament (day one) and during or post-tournament (day two to day four); and (3) the effect of pre-match well-being and level of opponents (high vs. low level) on match loads. Results revealed no between-match significant differences (p > 0.05) in most of the investigated match load measures. A congested match schedule negatively affected perceived fatigue (p < 0.001), muscle soreness (p = 0.004) and overall wellness (p < 0.001), with post hoc analyses showing decreased values on day four compared to previous days (small-to-moderate effect sizes). Finally, pre-match well-being and level of opponents did not affect match loads (p > 0.05). These results highlighted the necessity to embrace a multidimensional approach when adopting monitoring systems in elite women’s rugby sevens during tournaments and to consider various contextual factors possibly affecting match loads, besides those investigated.

Running Performance and Hormonal, Maturity and Physical Variables in Starting and Non-Starting Elite U14 Soccer Players During a Congested Match Schedule.

This study examined changes in match running performance (MRP) in Under-14 soccer players (13.5 ± 0.7 yrs) during a congested match schedule (CMS) (4 matches played within a 5-day period). It also examined the difference in salivary testosterone (sT) concentration, somatic maturation, jumping tests, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) between the players selected to play (SLG; group who participated in all matches) and players non-selected to play (NSG). A significant difference was observed for the frequency of decelerations (DEC) across matches (match 4 vs. matches 1, 2 and 3; p = 0.05; partial ƞ2 = 0.20). No difference between matches was observed for total running distance (TRD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), and frequency of accelerations (ACC) (p > 0.05). A wide range for within-player coefficient of variation (CV) values was observed for all MRP variables (range: 10.5 = TRD to 30.6 = HSRD). No difference between SLG and NSG for any of the assessed variables was observed (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that DEC was the most pertinent variable for monitoring changes in MRP during the CMS. In addition, at an elite youth soccer level, the biological maturity and fitness might not influence selection to play.

Evidence and Application of Athlete Monitoring Programs in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer: A Narrative Review

ABSTRACT National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women's soccer players spend 2–3 weeks in preseason, followed by 12–14 weeks in the competitive season. Because of a short, intense preseason followed by the long competitive season, athlete monitoring programs would play an important role in maximizing physical preparation and match performance while minimizing unfavorable adaptations and fatigue during the NCAA Division I collegiate women's soccer competitive season. Athlete monitoring measures can be used to assess training load (TL), the response to TL, and a player's physical and psychological readiness to train or play during the competitive season. Session rating of perceived exertion and global navigation satellite system measures are common load monitoring measures, whereas subjective recovery and stress questionnaires, heart rate measures, performance tests, and biochemical measures are monitoring measures to estimate the response to TL. This article aims to review the roles of these athlete monitoring measures and provide the physical performance demands of women's soccer match play and athlete monitoring strategies. Furthermore, this article provides practitioner examples of athlete monitoring programs based on NCAA Division I women's soccer match schedules and limitations.

Physical match performance and injuries in professional soccer before and after the COVID-19 break

ABSTRACT Purpose To examine possible differences in physical match performance and the injury occurrence before and after the COVID-19 induced interruption of the 2019/2020 season of the German Bundesliga. Due to the interruption, matches and soccer-specific training were suspended for nine weeks, matches after the resumption of play occurred congested, and the playing situation changed, regarding, e.g., an increase to five substitutions. Methods For this purpose, the 25 match-days before (pre) and the 9 match-days after (post) the COVID-19 induced interruption were examined regarding total distance, sprinting distance, average peak velocity, high-intensity distance, and injury occurrence. Results Average peak velocity increased slightly for the comparison of pre and post with a small effect size (MD = 0.28 km/h, 95% CI: 0.11–0.45, p < 0.01, ES = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.12–0.48). There were no relevant differences in total distance, sprinting distance, high-intensity distance, and injury occurrence (0.11 ≤ p ≤ 0.82; 0.02≤ ES≤0.15). Discussion In terms of physical match performance and injury occurence results suggest the opportunity to recover and work on individual physical weaknesses during the interruption alongside with an increased number of substitutions was sufficient to compensate for the short soccer-specific preparation phase before the commencement of matches and the congested match schedule after the COVID-19 break.

Effect Of Recovery Time After Match On Muscle Explosive Power On Football Athletes

Football is one of the most prestigious forms of sports that are in great demand by the public. Many football clubs that take part in the competition have a tight match schedule. This causes the recovery time for athletes to be short and lead to fatigue. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of recovery time after the match on the explosive power of leg muscles in soccer athletes. This study was an experimental study with a pretest-posttest group design. The sampling method used was simple random sampling to get 40 research subjects divided into 2 groups, namely groups with recovery time of 2 days and groups with recovery time of 5 days. The assessment used is measurement of explosive limb muscle power using the vertical jump technique before and after receiving the recovery period. To test the normality of data using Shapiro-Wilk continued with the comparative data test in the form of an unpaired t test. The results of the study in groups with a recovery time of 2 days were worth -3.7cm and the group with a recovery time of 5 days was 2.9cm. These results were analyzed using unpaired t-test showing p value = 0,000 (p&lt;0.05) which showed there were significant differences between the two groups. The conclusion of this study is that there is an effect of recovery time after the game on the leg muscle explosive power in soccer athletes. Recovery time of 5 days is better than 2 day after competition. It is very important to pay attention to recovery time in athletes, the recommendation of this study is a minimum of 5 days.