Basketball-Specific Small-Sided Games Training during Ramadan Intermitting Fasting: Do Changes in Body Composition, Sleep Habits, and Perceived Exertion Affect Technical Performance?

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of an additional small-sided games (SSGs) training program during Ramadan intermitting fasting (RIF) on technical performance depending on changes in body composition, sleep habits, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Twenty-four professional male basketball players from the Tunisian first division participated in this study. The players were randomly assigned to an intervention group (INT; n = 12) or an active control group (CON; n = 12). Both groups completed a four-week SSG training program (three sessions per week). During the first and fourth weeks of the SSGs training, the two groups were evaluated to detect changes in technical performance, dietary intake, body composition, sleep quality index (PSQI) survey outcomes, RPE, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration [La]. During the fourth week of the RIF period, body composition, dietary intake, sleep latency, sleep duration, and HR significantly decreased only for INT (p < 0.001). However, RPE significantly increased (p < 0.001), and technical performances were negatively affected (p < 0.01). MANCOVA (adjusted for the percentage of change in sleep duration, body mass, and RPE) showed no significant differences in either group. In conclusion, our results showed that the technical performance of professional basketball male players was significantly affected at the end of RIF independently of changes in RPE, sleep habits, and body composition.