Influence of Travel Demands and Match Load on Recovery Following Postmatch Travel in National-Team Footballers

This study investigated the relationship between travel demands and match loads on perceptual recovery, fatigue, and sleep following postmatch travel in national football teams. In addition, the influence of travel demands and the time between match kickoff and travel departure on postmatch recovery was examined.

Match-running load (via GPS) and travel data were obtained from 79 male national-team footballers. Postmatch travel duration, direction, context, time-zone difference, and time between kickoff and travel departure were collated. Athletes provided perceptual ratings of fatigue, soreness, sleep, stress, and recovery from 1 day prematch through to 3 days after postmatch travel. Linear mixed models assessed the influence of match load and travel on perceptual ratings for 3 days posttravel. Additional models assessed a standardized postmatch time point of match day + 3 to determine whether timing and extent of travel influenced recovery.

Higher match loads were associated with poorer recovery, fatigue, soreness, and sleep (P = .001-.032). Athletes reported poorer fatigue, soreness, and recovery when traveling from national teams back to clubs compared with between national-team matches (P < .001). Traveling eastward was associated with poorer sleep (P = .004). Longer periods between kickoff and travel departure were associated with poorer sleep on match day + 3 (P = .003).

Perceptual recovery, fatigue, sleep, and soreness following postmatch travel were affected by both match load and travel demands. Greater match loads and eastward postmatch travel may impair recovery. In addition, departing later after a match was associated with poorer sleep on match day + 3; however, no relationships existed to any other recovery measures.