TY - JOUR
T1 - The perceptions of elite professional footballers on the International Match Calendar: a cross-sectional study
AU - Gouttebarge, Vincent
AU - Brink, Michel S.
AU - Kerkhoffs, Gino M. M. J.
PY - 2019/10/2
Y1 - 2019/10/2
N2 - The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of elite professional footballers on various dimensions related to the International Match Calendar. A cross-sectional design by means of a survey was conducted among male elite professional footballers playing in national teams and/or continental competitions. The survey questions were formulated during two expert meetings with football stakeholders (including players), covering the following dimensions: number of matches and related recovery, influence of travelling, and in- and off-season breaks. A total of 543 elite professional footballers completed the survey (response rate: 36%), of whom 55% were playing in their national teams. Around 35–40% of the participants reported playing too many matches per season with an insufficient number of recovery days in between. Nearly two-thirds of the participants reported that travelling had a significant negative impact on their recovery, performances and/or health. Elite professional footballers were in favour of an in-and off-season break lasting 14 days and 5 weeks, respectively. The findings of our study suggest that there is a need to review the International Match Calendar and implement measures in elite professional football to empower the players’ recovery and performances.
AB - The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of elite professional footballers on various dimensions related to the International Match Calendar. A cross-sectional design by means of a survey was conducted among male elite professional footballers playing in national teams and/or continental competitions. The survey questions were formulated during two expert meetings with football stakeholders (including players), covering the following dimensions: number of matches and related recovery, influence of travelling, and in- and off-season breaks. A total of 543 elite professional footballers completed the survey (response rate: 36%), of whom 55% were playing in their national teams. Around 35–40% of the participants reported playing too many matches per season with an insufficient number of recovery days in between. Nearly two-thirds of the participants reported that travelling had a significant negative impact on their recovery, performances and/or health. Elite professional footballers were in favour of an in-and off-season break lasting 14 days and 5 weeks, respectively. The findings of our study suggest that there is a need to review the International Match Calendar and implement measures in elite professional football to empower the players’ recovery and performances.
KW - Professional football
KW - match congestion
KW - performance
KW - recovery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074235470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85074235470&origin=inward
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2019.1617432
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2019.1617432
M3 - Article
SN - 2473-3938
VL - 3
SP - 339
EP - 342
JO - Science and Medicine in Football
JF - Science and Medicine in Football
IS - 4
ER -