Effect of an intensified training period on well-being indices, recovery and psychological aspects in professional soccer players

Introduction. - Intensified training periods (IT) are associated with fatigue increase and psychological variations. Objective. - This investigation aimed to examine the perceived well-being, recovery quality and psychological responses during an IT. Methods. - Fifteen professional soccer players (mean SD: age: 24 +/- 1 years, body mass: 71.3 +/- 15.1 kg, height: 178.0 +/- 6.1 cm) completed a 6-week training program consisting of 2 weeks of basic training (BT) and 4 weeks of IT. They were tested before (T1) and after (T2) the IT. Training load (TL) perception, strain and monotony were measured by the session-RPE method. Well-being indices (sleep quality, fatigue level, stress and delayed-onset muscular soreness [DOMS]) and total quality recovery (TQR) were recorded before each training session. The profile of mood states (POMS) and the Ottowa mental skills assessment tool (OMSAT)-3 were conducted before and after IT. Results. - No significant difference was found after IT in OMSAT-3 scores (p 0.05). TL, monotony and strain increased during IT (p < 0.001). Moreover, well-being indices (stress, sleep quality, fatigue level and DOMS) increased (p < 0.001) and TQR decreased (p < 0.001) during IT. The IT increased total mood disturbance (TMD, p < 0.001), tension (p < 0.05) and fatigue (p < 0.01) and decreased vigor (p < 0.001). Significant relationships were found between TL and Hooper Index (HI), TQR and TMD (r = 0.58, 0.65, -0.57, respectively; all p < 0.05). Conclusion. - The findings of this investigation suggested that mental ability was not sensitive to fatigue caused by training load intensification. However, perceived well-being, recovery state and mood were found to be sensitive measures and may provide coaches with information about wellness and psychological state of soccer players during IT. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.