Quantification of football-specific fatigue: a comparison methods between motor skills test battery and psychometric questionnaire

Aim of the study: To determine the current individual recovery needs of footballers, this study investigated whether a battery of tests (sprint, drop jump, Illinois Agility Test) and a recovery-exercise questionnaire (EBFSPO) can quantify football-specific fatigue and are therefore suitable as a measurement method for fatigue diagnosis. Methodology: Quasi-experimental field study with pre- and post-measurements in a control group design. Results: Significant effects indicative of fatigue in the intervention group were observed in both the motor skills test battery and the psychometric questionnaire (recovery and exertion scores). Correlation between the change values of the 30-metre sprint and the change values of the EBFSPO. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the motor skills tests (sprint, agility, ground contact time) are capable of diagnosing fatigue in football players, and that the sprint results reflect those of the EBFSPO, which was also administered.