Off-training physical activity and training responses as determinants of sleep quality in young soccer players

Sci Rep. 2021 May 13;11(1):10219. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-89693-4.

Abstract

This study aimed to quantify and assess the relationship of young soccer players' off-training physical activity (PA) and training responses on sleep quality. Eleven adolescent soccer players (13 ± 0.5 years old) were monitored during weekdays for four consecutive weeks, throughout soccer practice days. Off-training PA and sleep quality were assessed using 100 Hz tri-axial accelerometers and training responses analyzed using 20 Hz global positioning measurement units. A cluster analysis classified all cases into three different dimensions, (1) off-training PA, (2) training responses and (3) sleep quality. For each dimension, the most important variables for classifying the cases into clusters were sedentary PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA; total distance covered and impacts; and sleep onset latency and sleep fragmentation index, respectively. Afterwards, a correspondence analysis was used to identify whether off-training PA and training responses affected sleep quality. Results exposed that high to medium off-training PA combined with medium to high training responses may have decreased sleep quality. Conversely, no correspondence was observed between off-training PA and training responses, with higher sleep quality. This study emphasizes the importance of sports organizations adopting a holistic approach to youth soccer players' development, that appropriately considers the inter-relationship between lifestyle, performance and health-related information.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Athletes
  • Athletic Performance / physiology
  • Child
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Physical Conditioning, Human
  • Portugal
  • Running / physiology
  • Sleep / physiology*
  • Soccer / physiology*