1. Effects of frequent away travel on training loads, recovery and injury in professional Australian soccer players
Peter Fowler1, Rob Duffield2, Adam Waterson3 and Joanna Vaile4
1Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
2University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
3Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club, Blacktown, NSW, Australia
4Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia
INTRODUCTION Frequent short-haul air travel (≤ 5 h across ≤ 2 time-zones) to and from away matches is a necessity for professional Australian soccer (football) teams [1]. In addition, travel is often required the day following away matches. Therefore, subsequent training loads and recovery may be disrupted, reducing player wellness and increasing injury risk [2]. It is proposed that frequent travel may result in the accumulation of travel-related fatigue [3]. Consequently, effects on training loads, recovery and injury rates may be augmented following away matches in the late competition phase. However, this is yet to be investigated in football. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effects of match location (home vs. away) and competition phase (early vs. late) on training loads, player wellness and injury prior to and following competitive football matches. METHODS 18 male professional Australian football players representing a team competing in the highest national competition (A-League) participated. Data was collected on the day prior to, the day of and four days following each of the 27 matches of the 2012/2013 season (Table 1), including 14 home and 13 away matches, further subdivided into early (1-13) and late (14-27) competition phases. Player wellness (arbitrary units [AU]) and training load (AU) data was collected ~60 min prior to and ~30 min following each training session and match, respectively. Injury incidence, rate, severity and type, together with the activity at the time of injury was recorded according to the data collection procedures outlined by the Injury Consensus Group of the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Center [4]. Mean (95% confidence intervals [CI]) duration and distance of air travel for away matches was 2.3 ( ) h and 1476 ( ) km, respectively, north and south across no time-zones or east and west across two time-zones.
RESULTS During the early compared to the late competition phase, training loads were significantly greater on day 3 at home (P<0.01) and away (P=0.01) (Figure 1). Over the six days surrounding each match, the total training load ( ( ) AU vs ( ) AU) and mean wellness ( ( ) AU vs ( ) AU) were significantly greater during the early compared to the late competition phase (P<0.05). Though not significant (P>0.05) due to the low total number of injuries, the number of training sessions missed due to injury was 60 and 50 % greater during the late compared to the early competition phase at home (27 vs. 11) and away (22 vs. 11), respectively DISCUSSION Reduced training loads and wellness, along with increased training missed due to injury were identified during the late compared to the early competition phase. This suggests that during the latter half of the season, players’ recovery time following matches was slower and their ability to cope with training and competition demands was reduced. Whilst this may indicate an accumulation of travel-related fatigue throughout the season, no differences were evident between home and away matches during the late competition phase. Therefore, in conclusion, away travel had negligible effects on the reduction in player wellness observed during the latter half of the season.
Figure 1 Effect of competition phase (early vs. late) on mean (95% CI) training load and wellness at home (A and B), and away (C and D). *Significantly different to the late competition phase (P<0.05).
Table 1 General description of training content and mean (95% CI) training loads on the day prior to, the day of and four days following each match at home and away.
Day -1
Match
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Home
Tactical
Match +
Recovery
Day Off
Recovery (Pitch) + Yoga
Conditioning + Gym
147 ( )
721 ( )
90 (60-120)
465 ( )
373 ( )
Away
Recovery + Travel
132 ( )
744 ( )
24 (0-48)
421 ( )
411 ( )
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