Strategic Daytime Napping Enhances Agility and Lowers Perceived Exertion But Does Not Improve Fatigue Resistance in Adolescent Soccer Players

Bursa Uludag University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fatigue; Sleep Deprivation; Athletic Performance

Treatments: Behavioral: Pro Agility Test; Behavioral: Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE); Behavioral: Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07314645

2024/5635

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background

Daytime napping is increasingly incorporated into athletic recovery routines to manage sleepiness and support alertness. However, the effects of different nap durations on high-intensity anaerobic performance tasks remain insufficiently characterized, particularly in team-sport settings. Nap duration and circadian timing may influence psychomotor readiness, perceived exertion, and fatigue-related responses, yet existing evidence is limited and inconsistent in adolescent athlete populations. This study is designed to examine the acute effects of two daytime nap durations within a controlled experimental framework.

Methods

This study will employ a randomized, crossover design involving sixteen competitive male adolescent soccer players classified as intermediate chronotypes. Each participant will complete three experimental conditions in a randomized order: no nap (N0), a 25-minute nap (N25), and a 45-minute nap (N45), with standardized washout periods between sessions. Nap compliance will be objectively monitored using wrist-worn actigraphy.

Following each condition, participants will observe a standardized 60-minute post-nap wakefulness period prior to performance testing. Agility performance will be assessed using the Pro Agility Test, and anaerobic endurance will be evaluated using a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) protocol. Psychophysiological measures will include ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), the Hooper Index, visual analogue scales (VAS) for subjective alertness, and mood states assessed via the Profile of Mood States (POMS). These outcomes will be collected to compare responses across nap conditions.

Objectives

The primary objective of this study is to compare the acute effects of two daytime nap durations (25 minutes vs 45 minutes) on agility performance in adolescent soccer players without a habitual napping routine. Secondary objectives include examining nap-related differences in repeated-sprint performance indices, perceived exertion, subjective alertness, and mood states.

Keywords

daytime nap; athletic recovery; agility; repeated-sprint ability; perceived exertion; mood; chronotype

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 16 to 19 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• being a member of the Yeni Malatyaspor U19 or U17 team
• having no history of illness or injury
• no regular napping habit

Exclusion criteria

• active infections
• hyperactivity
• sleep disorders
• sleep problems on protocol days

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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16 participants in 3 patient groups

No Nap

Experimental group

Description:

No Nap Conditions

Treatment:

Behavioral: Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test

Behavioral: Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

Behavioral: Pro Agility Test

25 Min Nap

Experimental group

Description:

25 Min Nap Conditions

Treatment:

Behavioral: Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test

Behavioral: Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

Behavioral: Pro Agility Test

45 Min Nap

Experimental group

Description:

45 Min Nap Conditions

Treatment:

Behavioral: Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test

Behavioral: Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

Behavioral: Pro Agility Test