Does Eligibility Classification Matter? Tracking Cardiac Autonomic Function during a Collegiate Soccer Season

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Physiology
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Heart rate variability (HRV) is a key indicator of autonomic nervous system function and athletic performance.
• Understanding how competitive environments (home vs. away) and athlete characteristics influence HRV is crucial for optimizing training and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in heart rate (HR) and HRV among collegiate male soccer players based on eligibility classification.
• To determine if HRV differs between home and away games during a competitive season.
• To explore the relationship between HRV, game location, and subjective stress/mood measures.

Main Methods:

• Collected HR and HRV data throughout an entire collegiate soccer season, from preseason to tournament elimination.
• Compared HR and HRV across student-athlete eligibility classifications, home vs. away games, and playing positions.
• Utilized self-reported subjective measures of mood and stress for contextual analysis.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in HR or HRV were found based on student-athlete eligibility classification.
• A statistically significant decrease in heart rate was observed during away games compared to home games.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) significantly increased in the away game setting, despite no differences in subjective stress or mood.

Conclusions:

• Collegiate soccer players' HRV is not influenced by eligibility classification.
• Competing away from home is associated with higher HRV, potentially indicating altered stress perception or readiness.
• Reduced HRV during home games may reflect heightened readiness and self-confidence, without corresponding increases in subjective stress.