year 14, Issue 1 (Continuously Updated 2026)
Ann Appl Sport Sci 2026, 14(1): 0-0 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Broodryk A, Prevoo M, Kramer M. Effects of a Sleep Hygiene Intervention Period on Match Performance Indicators of Male University-Level Football Players During a Tournament. Ann Appl Sport Sci 2026; 14 (1)
URL: http://aassjournal.com/article-1-1662-en.html
URL: http://aassjournal.com/article-1-1662-en.html
1- Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa , adele.broodryk@nwu.ac.za
2- Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
2- Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Abstract: (69 Views)
Background. Performance indicators (PIs) are crucial in football for providing accurate data that helps players and coaches improve their performance. Sleep deprivation is a common issue in football, and it can significantly impact game results.
Objectives. This study examined how a sleep hygiene protocol impacts various football match PIs.
Methods. A tertiary team comprising twenty male university-level football players (average age: 22.2 ± 3 years; height: 167.6 ± 6.4 cm; weight: 62 ± 6.6 kg) completed a 4-week sleep hygiene intervention period (SHP). During the SHP, players followed at least ten sleep hygiene rules and completed a daily sleep diary. The performance indicators of the team and their opponents were recorded and analyzed over 14 matches, divided into a quasi-experimental repeated measures design (comprising five matches completed without the sleep intervention (nSHP), four matches with SHP, and again five matches with nSHP). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was utilized two weeks before SHP began, and three weeks into the intervention for subjective sleep measures.
Results. A significant decrease in overall PSQI scores (P = 0.03, g = 0.6) was noted. There were also significant positive changes in the number of dribbles (P = 0.004, g = 1.9, Mdiff = 47.3%), network passes (P < 0.001, g = 1.6, Mdiff = 37.9%), successful passes (P < 0.001, g = 1.3, Mdiff = 21.6%), and crosses (P = 0.02, g = 1.4, Mdiff = 28.6%) compared to nSHP. Successful passes were strongly linked with shots on target and network passes, while penalty-area shots were connected to dribbles (all P < 0.001).
Conclusion. In this cohort and setting, SHP was associated with improvements in several offensive PIs; however, findings are preliminary and require replication with objective sleep measures and more matches.
Objectives. This study examined how a sleep hygiene protocol impacts various football match PIs.
Methods. A tertiary team comprising twenty male university-level football players (average age: 22.2 ± 3 years; height: 167.6 ± 6.4 cm; weight: 62 ± 6.6 kg) completed a 4-week sleep hygiene intervention period (SHP). During the SHP, players followed at least ten sleep hygiene rules and completed a daily sleep diary. The performance indicators of the team and their opponents were recorded and analyzed over 14 matches, divided into a quasi-experimental repeated measures design (comprising five matches completed without the sleep intervention (nSHP), four matches with SHP, and again five matches with nSHP). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was utilized two weeks before SHP began, and three weeks into the intervention for subjective sleep measures.
Results. A significant decrease in overall PSQI scores (P = 0.03, g = 0.6) was noted. There were also significant positive changes in the number of dribbles (P = 0.004, g = 1.9, Mdiff = 47.3%), network passes (P < 0.001, g = 1.6, Mdiff = 37.9%), successful passes (P < 0.001, g = 1.3, Mdiff = 21.6%), and crosses (P = 0.02, g = 1.4, Mdiff = 28.6%) compared to nSHP. Successful passes were strongly linked with shots on target and network passes, while penalty-area shots were connected to dribbles (all P < 0.001).
Conclusion. In this cohort and setting, SHP was associated with improvements in several offensive PIs; however, findings are preliminary and require replication with objective sleep measures and more matches.
Full-Text [PDF 1124 kb]
(12 Downloads)
See the Video Summary of this Paper on YouTube, and also the Infographic Summary on LinkedIn and X (Twitter):
APPLICABLE REMARKS
See the Video Summary of this Paper on YouTube, and also the Infographic Summary on LinkedIn and X (Twitter):
APPLICABLE REMARKS
- A four-week sleep hygiene intervention was associated with improvements in subjective sleep scores, suggesting that structured sleep routines may support recovery during high-demand tournament phases. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the reliance on self-reported measures and the absence of objective sleep tracking.
- Exposure to the sleep protocol coincided with measurable changes in selected performance indicators, indicating that sleep may play a supportive role in athletic output and fatigue management. Nonetheless, the influence of other uncontrolled variables and the limited sample size warrant careful interpretation.
- Positive associations between sleep hygiene and performance outcomes suggest that sleep-focused strategies could be a useful component of athlete support programs. However, their contribution to competitive success remains uncertain and likely depends on a broader set of contextual and performance-related factors.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Exercise, Training and Health
Received: 2025/08/18 | Accepted: 2025/10/25
Received: 2025/08/18 | Accepted: 2025/10/25
References
1. Dos Santos ML, Uftring M, Stahl CA, Lockie RG, Alvar B, Mann JB, et al. Stress in Academic and Athletic Performance in Collegiate Athletes: A Narrative Review of Sources and Monitoring Strategies. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 2020;2:42. [DOI:10.3389/fspor.2020.00042] [PMID] []
2. Wilson SMB, Gooderick J, Driller MW, Jones MI, Draper SB, Parker JK. Sleep Health in the Student-Athlete: A Narrative Review of Current Research and Future Directions. Current Sleep Medicine Reports. 2025;11(1). [DOI:10.1007/s40675-025-00341-z]
3. Bird SP. Sleep, Recovery, and Athletic Performance: A Brief Review and Recommendations. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 2013;35(5):43-7. [DOI:10.1519/SSC.0b013e3182a62e2f]
4. Carter JR, Gervais BM, Adomeit JL, Greenlund IM. Subjective and Objective Sleep Differ in Male and Female Collegiate Athletes. Sleep Health. 2020;6(5):623-8. [DOI:10.1016/j.sleh.2020.01.016] [PMID]
5. Sanders N, Randell RK, Thomas C, Bailey SJ, Clifford T. Sleep Architecture of Elite Soccer Players Surrounding Match Days as Measured by WHOOP Straps. Chronobiology International. 2024;41(4):539-47. [DOI:10.1080/07420528.2024.2325022] [PMID]
6. Nédélec M, Halson S, Delecroix B, Abaidia A-E, Ahmaidi S, Dupont G. Sleep Hygiene and Recovery Strategies in Elite Soccer Players. Sports Medicine. 2015;45(11):1547-59. [DOI:10.1007/s40279-015-0377-9] [PMID]
7. Vitale KC, Owens R, Hopkins SR, Malhotra A. Sleep Hygiene for Optimizing Recovery in Athletes: Review and Recommendations. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019;40(8):535-43. [DOI:10.1055/a-0905-3103] [PMID] []
8. West A. Sleep - A Game Changer in the Athletic World? Swiss Sports and Exercise Medicine. 2018;66(4):37-42. [DOI:10.34045/SSEM/2018/29]
9. Walsh NP, Halson SL, Sargent C, Roach GD, Nédélec M, Gupta L, et al. Sleep and the Athlete: Narrative Review and 2021 Expert Consensus Recommendations. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;55(7):356-68. [DOI:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102025] [PMID]
10. Marshall GJG, Turner AN. The Importance of Sleep for Athletic Performance. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 2016;38(1):61-7. [DOI:10.1519/SSC.0000000000000189]
11. Fullagar HHK, Duffield R, Skorski S, Coutts AJ, Julian R, Meyer T. Sleep and Recovery in Team Sport: Current Sleep-Related Issues Facing Professional Team-Sport Athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2015;10(8):950-7. [DOI:10.1123/ijspp.2014-0565] [PMID]
12. Nédélec M, McCall A, Carling C, Legall F, Berthoin S, Dupont G. Recovery in Soccer: Part II-Recovery Strategies. Sports Medicine. 2013;43(1):9-22. [DOI:10.1007/s40279-012-0002-0] [PMID]
13. Vlahoyiannis A, Aphamis G, Andreou E, Samoutis G, Sakkas GK, Giannaki CD. Effects of High vs. Low Glycemic Index of Post-Exercise Meals on Sleep and Exercise Performance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Counterbalanced Polysomnographic Study. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1795. [DOI:10.3390/nu10111795] [PMID] []
14. Kölling S, Duffield R, Erlacher D, Venter R, Halson SL. Sleep-Related Issues for Recovery and Performance in Athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2019;14(2):144-8. [DOI:10.1123/ijspp.2017-0746] [PMID]
15. Watson AM. Sleep and Athletic Performance. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2017;16(6):413-8. [DOI:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000418] [PMID]
16. Duffield R, Murphy A, Kellett A, Reid M. Recovery from Repeated On-Court Tennis Sessions: Combining Cold-Water Immersion, Compression, and Sleep Interventions. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2014;9(2):273-82. [DOI:10.1123/ijspp.2012-0359] [PMID]
17. Fullagar HHK, Skorski S, Duffield R, Julian R, Bartlett J, Meyer T. Impaired Sleep and Recovery After Night Matches in Elite Football Players. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2016;34(14):1333-9. [DOI:10.1080/02640414.2015.1135249] [PMID]
18. Mah CD, Mah KE, Kezirian EJ, Dement WC. The Effects of Sleep Extension on the Athletic Performance of Collegiate Basketball Players. Sleep. 2011;34(7):943-50. [DOI:10.5665/SLEEP.1132] [PMID] []
19. Schwartz J, Simon RD. Sleep Extension Improves Serving Accuracy: A Study with College Varsity Tennis Players. Physiology & Behavior. 2015;151:541-4. [DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.08.035] [PMID]
20. Roberts SSH, Teo W-P, Aisbett B, Warmington SA. Extended Sleep Maintains Endurance Performance Better than Normal or Restricted Sleep. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2019;51(12):2516-23. [DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000002071] [PMID]
21. Cunha LA, Costa JA, Marques EA, Brito J, Lastella M, Figueiredo P. The Impact of Sleep Interventions on Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine - Open. 2023;9(58). [DOI:10.1186/s40798-023-00599-z] [PMID] []
22. Bonnar D, Bartel K, Kakoschke N, Lang C. Sleep Interventions Designed to Improve Athletic Performance and Recovery: A Systematic Review of Current Approaches. Sports Medicine. 2018;48(3):683-703. [DOI:10.1007/s40279-017-0832-x] [PMID]
23. Fullagar HHK, Skorski S, Duffield R, Meyer T. The Effect of an Acute Sleep Hygiene Strategy Following a Late-Night Soccer Match on Recovery of Players. Chronobiology International. 2016;33(5):490-505. [DOI:10.3109/07420528.2016.1149190] [PMID]
24. Harrop K, Nevill A. Performance Indicators That Predict Success in an English Professional League One Soccer Team. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. 2014;14(3):907-20. [DOI:10.1080/24748668.2014.11868767]
25. Kubayi A, Toriola A. Match Performance Indicators That Discriminated Between Winning, Drawing and Losing Teams in the 2017 AFCON Soccer Championship. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2020;72(1):215-21. [DOI:10.2478/hukin-2019-0108] [PMID] []
26. Yang G, Leicht AS, Lago C, Gómez M-Á. Key Team Physical and Technical Performance Indicators Indicative of Team Quality in the Soccer Chinese Super League. Research in Sports Medicine. 2018;26(2):158-67. [DOI:10.1080/15438627.2018.1431539] [PMID]
27. Lever JR, Murphy AP, Duffield R, Fullagar HHK. A Combined Sleep Hygiene and Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Sleep and Well-Being During High-Performance Youth Tennis Tournaments. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2021;16(2):250-8. [DOI:10.1123/ijspp.2019-1008] [PMID]
28. Souabni M, Hammouda O, Souabni MJ, Romdhani M, Souissi W, Ammar A, et al. Nap Improved Game-Related Technical Performance and Physiological Response During Small-Sided Basketball Game in Professional Players. Biology of Sport. 2023;40(2):389-97. [DOI:10.5114/biolsport.2023.116004] [PMID] []
29. Shahriary A, Taghiyareh F, Bijary F, Mahmoudi M, editors. Analyzing the Impact of Sleep Quality on Cognitive Abilities Using Game-Based Assessment2024. [DOI:10.1109/IST64061.2024.10843632]
30. Ochoa-Lácar J, Singh M, Bird SP, Charest J, Huyghe T, Calleja-González J. How Sleep Affects Recovery and Performance in Basketball: A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences. 2022;12(11):1570. [DOI:10.3390/brainsci12111570] [PMID] []
31. Wang W, Zhu Y, Yu H, Wu C, Li T, Ji C, et al. The Impact of Sleep Quality on Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Adolescents: A Chained Mediation Model Involving Daytime Dysfunction, Social Exclusion, and Self-Control. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):1866. [DOI:10.1186/s12889-024-19400-1] [PMID] []
32. Herold M, Kempe M, Bauer P, Meyer T. Attacking Key Performance Indicators in Soccer: Current Practice and Perceptions from the Elite to Youth Academy Level. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2021;20(1):158-69. [DOI:10.52082/jssm.2021.158] [PMID] []
33. Liu H, Gomez M-Á, Lago-Peñas C, Sampaio J. Match Statistics Related to Winning in the Group Stage of 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2015;33(12):1205-13. [DOI:10.1080/02640414.2015.1022578] [PMID]
34. Hughes MD, Bartlett RM. The Use of Performance Indicators in Performance Analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2002;20(10):739-54. [DOI:10.1080/026404102320675602] [PMID]
35. Griffiths C, Hina F, Pollard L, Jugon S, Sam M, Kelbrick M. A Qualitative Study of Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) Service Patient's Experience of Sleep, Exercise, Sleep Hygiene Advice and Fitbit Wearable Activity and Sleep Tracker. Open Journal of Psychiatry. 2021;11(2):91-106. [DOI:10.4236/ojpsych.2021.112009]
36. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A New Instrument for Psychiatric Practice and Research. Psychiatry Research. 1989;28(2):193-213. [DOI:10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4] [PMID]
37. Sawilowsky SS. New Effect Size Rules of Thumb. Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods. 2009;8(2):597-9. [DOI:10.22237/jmasm/1257035100]
38. Schober P, Boer C, Schwarte LA. Correlation Coefficients: Appropriate Use and Interpretation. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2018;126(5):1763-8. [DOI:10.1213/ANE.0000000000002864] [PMID]
39. Lastella M, Onay Z, Scanlan AT, Elsworthy N, Pitchford NW, Vincent GE. Wakeup Call: Reviewing the Effects of Sleep on Decision-Making in Athletes and Implications for Sports Officials. Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2020;9(2):65-71. [DOI:10.26773/mjssm.200907]
40. Pourhassan J, Sarginson J, Hitzl W, Richter K. Cognitive Function in Soccer Athletes Determined by Sleep Disruption and Self-Reported Health, Yet Not by Decision-Reinvestment. Frontiers in Neurology. 2022;13:872761. [DOI:10.3389/fneur.2022.872761] [PMID] []
41. Fox JL, Stanton R, Scanlan AT, Teramoto M, Sargent C. The Association Between Sleep and In-Game Performance in Basketball Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2021;16(3):333-41. [DOI:10.1123/ijspp.2020-0025] [PMID]
42. Lim J, Dinges DF. A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Short-Term Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Variables. Psychological Bulletin. 2010;136(3):375-89. [DOI:10.1037/a0018883] [PMID] []
43. Millard L, Shaw I, Breukelman GJ, Shaw BS. Factors Affecting Vision and Visio-Spatial Intelligence (VSI) in Sport: A Review of the Literature. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020;11(3):e101670. [DOI:10.5812/asjsm.101670]
44. Walker MP, Stickgold R. Sleep, Memory, and Plasticity. Annual Review of Psychology. 2006;57:139-66. [DOI:10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070307] [PMID]
45. Hefzollesan M, Ghalehgir S, Behpoor N. The Effects of 30 Hours Sleep Deprivation on Basic Football Skills of Soccer Players. Pedagogics, Psychology, Medical-Biological Problems of Physical Training and Sports. 2012;7:137-41.
46. Hefzollesan M, Ghalehgir S, Ekrami M. The Effects of 36 Hours of Sleep Deprivation on Dribbling Skills of Soccer Players. Physical Education of Students. 2013;4:97-100.
47. Fullagar HHK, Skorski S, Duffield R, Hammes D, Coutts AJ, Meyer T. Sleep and Athletic Performance: The Effects of Sleep Loss on Exercise Performance, and Physiological and Cognitive Responses to Exercise. Sports Medicine. 2015;45(2):161-86. [DOI:10.1007/s40279-014-0260-0] [PMID]
48. Reyner LA, Horne JA. Sleep Restriction and Serving Accuracy in Performance Tennis Players, and Effects of Caffeine. Physiology & Behavior. 2013;120:93-6. [DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.07.002] [PMID]
49. Carling C, Williams AM, Reilly T. Handbook of Soccer Match Analysis: A Systematic Approach to Improving Performance. 1st ed. London: Routledge; 2005.
50. Buldú JM, Busquets J, Martínez JH, Herrera-Diestra JL, Echegoyen I, Galeano J, et al. Using Network Science to Analyse Football Passing Networks: Dynamics, Space, Time, and the Multilayer Nature of the Game. Frontiers in Psychology. 2018;Volume 9 - 2018. [DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01900] [PMID] []
51. Gwyther K, Rice S, Purcell R, Pilkington V, Santesteban-Echarri O, Bailey A, et al. Sleep Interventions for Performance, Mood and Sleep Outcomes in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2022;58:102094. [DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102094]
52. Prevoo M, Broodryk R, Kramer M. Effects of a Sleep Hygiene Intervention Period on the Internal and External, Inter- and Intra-Match Demands of Male University-Level Soccer Players During a Tournament. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2025;39(4):798-805. [DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000005083] [PMID]
53. Dattilo M, Antunes HKM, Medeiros A, Mônico Neto M, Souza HS, Tufik S, et al. Sleep and Muscle Recovery: Endocrinological and Molecular Basis for a New and Promising Hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses. 2011;77(2):220-2. [DOI:10.1016/j.mehy.2011.04.017] [PMID]
54. Silva AC, Silva A, Edwards BJ, Tod D, Souza Amaral A, de Alcântara Borba D, et al. Sleep Extension in Athletes: What We Know So Far - A Systematic Review. Sleep Medicine. 2021;77:128-35. [DOI:10.1016/j.sleep.2020.11.028] [PMID]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
