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Acute differences in field-based physical performance between Ramadan-type fasting and non-fasting conditions in
Yılmaz Yüksel1, Mehmet Emir Mentaş2, Furkan Karahan2
1Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Istanbul Topkapi University, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Introduction:
Ramadan-type fasting involves prolonged abstinence from food and fluids and may influence physical performance, fatigue, hydration-related responses, and sleep. However, evidence regarding its acute effects on field-based performance in preadolescent soccer players remains limited. This study aimed to compare physical performance, physiological and perceptual responses, sleep duration, and body mass between fed and Ramadan-type fasted conditions in 10-11-year-old male youth soccer players.
Methods:
Fifteen male youth soccer players completed a within-subject repeated-measures design under two nutritional conditions: fed and Ramadan-type fasted. In the Ramadan-type fasted condition, participants abstained from food and fluid intake for approximately 14 h before testing, whereas in the fed condition testing was performed approximately 3.5-4 h after a standardized meal. Field-based performance was assessed using countermovement jump, 30-m sprint, Illinois agility test, and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Children's Test. Resting heart rate, pre-test subjective fatigue, post-Yo-Yo perceived exertion, sleep duration, and body mass were also recorded.
Results:
Countermovement jump height, 30-m sprint time, and Illinois agility test time did not differ significantly between conditions. In contrast, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Children's Test distance was significantly lower under the fasted condition compared with the fed condition. Resting heart rate, pre-test subjective fatigue, and post-Yo-Yo perceived exertion were significantly higher in the fasted condition, while sleep duration and body mass were significantly lower.
Discussion:
These findings indicate that the Ramadan-type fasted condition was associated with lower intermittent endurance performance and greater perceptual strain, whereas no statistically significant differences were detected in isolated short-duration performance tasks in child soccer players. Coaches and practitioners should carefully monitor fatigue, perceived exertion, sleep, and recovery when planning intermittent endurance-oriented activities for children who voluntarily fast with parental approval.