european college of sport science

PERCEIVED STRESS AND RECOVERY IN OVERREACHED YOUNG ELITE SOCCER PLAYERS
BRINK, M., VISSCHER, C., LEMMINK, K.
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER GRONINGEN, UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN
PP-PP03 Physical Education and Pedagogics 3
Introduction: A disturbed balance between stress and recovery is considered to be the cause of overreaching. Monitoring the stress
recovery balance might prevent athletes from symptoms such as fatigue and disturbed mood, eating and sleeping patterns (Nederhof et
al. 2008). Since overreaching is characterized by sport-specific performance decrement (Meeusen et al. 2006), research is needed that
relates measures of stress and recovery to performance decrement. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate if stress and
recovery can be used as a tool to prevent overreaching in elite soccer players.
Methods: Stress, recovery and performance were prospectively monitored in 94 young elite soccer players during two competitive seasons.
The Dutch version of the Recovery Stress Questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-Sport) was used monthly to assess the stress-recovery
state of players (Nederhof et al. 2008).
Performance was monthly assessed by means of a submaximal Interval Shuttle Run Test (Lemmink et al. 2004; Brink et al. 2009). Subjects
with a heart rate increase ≥ 5 b•min-1 of four up to eight weeks were classified as overreached. A sports physician screened all
subjects to exclude other causes of performance decrement.
Individual differences in perceived stress and recovery over the previous two months of eleven overreached soccer players and six controls
were analysed (mean ± SD: Age (years) 17 ± 1, Height (cm) 176.56 ± 5.33, Weight (kg) 69.50± 6.06). Positive stress scores indicated
increased stress, whereas negative recovery scores indicated decreased recovery.
Results: Mann-Whitney tests showed that there were no significant differences between overreached and control soccer players in general
stress (mean± SD: 1.5 ± 4.0 vs. 0.5 ± 1.3), general recovery (-0.7 ± 2.1 vs. 1.2 ± 2.5), sport-specific stress (-0.1 ± 1.5 vs. -0.1 ± 0.3) and
sport-specific recovery (0.3 ± 1.9 vs. 0.8 ± 2.6).
Discussion: The results demonstrate no differences in perceived stress and recovery between overreached and control soccer players.
However, there is a tendency that overreached soccer players experience more stress and less recovery. The large standard deviation
indicates that some players do not report changes in stress and recovery, despite performance decrement. Possible explanations are the
relative young age of the players and different psychosocial awareness of team sport athletes. This should be kept in mind when using
these subjective ratings.
References
Nederhof E, Brink M, Lemmink K. (2008). Int J Sport Psych 39, (4), 301-311.
Meeusen R, Duclos M, Gleeson M, Steinacker J, Rietjens G, Urhausen A. (2006) Eur J Sport
Sci 6, (1), 1-14.
Lemmink K, Visscher C, Lambert M and Lamberts R. (2004). J Strength Cond Res, 18(4), 821-827.
Brink M, Nederhof E, Schmikli S, Visscher C, Lemmink K. (2009) J Strength Cond Res, (accepted).
13:00 - 14:00
Poster presentations
PP-PP03 Physical Education and Pedagogics 3
WHAT DOES YOGA MEAN TO YOU?
HUATORPET, S.
HEDMARK UNIVERSITY COLLAGE
Introduction: In Norway, as elsewhere in the western world, there has been an increase in the number of people participating in yoga in
recent years. Yet the reasons for the increase in popularity of yoga are unclear and this remains an under-researched area. Definitions of
yoga embrace physical, psychological and spiritual notions of health and well-being and reflect a view of yoga as a way of life rather
than simply a form of physical exercise. This suggests that there may be very many different reasons why people engage with yoga.
This small scale, qualitative research study set out to explore why yoga teachers engaged in the practice of yoga by exploring the meanings
they attached to the activity.
Methods: Thirteen yoga teachers were asked to participate in the study by responding to the question: What does yoga mean to you?
They were asked to write their responses down. Yoga teachers were chosen because they were likely to have established views on yoga
through their commitment to their regular and frequent practice.
Results: Eight yoga teachers participated in the study. Their qualitative responses were analysed thematically in order to identify key
themes in their narratives. Preliminary analysis revealed that yoga was important in their lives at quite a fundamental level. For example,
participants linked their own personal development as something beyond themselves; as an offering to the rest of the world. Participants
also gave expression to the view that it was an activity that related to their body, soul and mind and connected it to both physical and
mental health. Furthermore, it was evident that yoga was seen in terms of transformation, elevation and liberation.
Conclusion: While it’s obvious that yoga is essential and a big part of the lives for the yoga teachers, the next step will be to explore what
yoga means to yoga students.
THE EXCELLENCE IN SPORT. A CASE STUDY OF A TOP-LEVEL VOLLEYBALL COACH.
PEREIRA, A., LEITÃO, J.
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF VISEU; UNIVERSITY OF TRÁS-OS-MONTES AND ALTO DOURO
Introduction: During the last years, the interest in studying the excellent coach has increased (Jones et al., 2002). Janssen & Dale (2002)
and Orlick (2008) talk about some interesting topics, even though they deserve further research. This way, it becomes urgent to further
investigate this issue, so that it becomes possible to gather more data concerning the coach’s interpretation of his own professional
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ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE