Introduction In sport, burnout contributes to decreased performance, increased risk of injury, sports dropout and decreased mental and physical health. Mental fatigue (MF) and physical fatigue (PF) are precursors to burnout. Most research focuses on the physical load experienced during training and competition. In the modern game, elite football stakeholders are exposed to on and off-field stressors which may cause fatigue. The purpose of this study was to subjectively identify factors that contribute to fatigue and identify the type of fatigue that manifests because of exposure to these causes. Methods: An online questionnaire investigated whether a) football specific, b) associated professional factors, and c) psychosocial factors: i) caused fatigue, ii) the extent to which it caused fatigue and iii) the type of fatigue induced in elite football stakeholders (N=103). Results Both on and off-field factors contributed to fatigue. Only four factors were applicable to less than 80% of respondents (sponsor commitments (74%), safety at matches (77%), media scrutiny of football-related performance (76%) and non-footballing matters (73%)). Training and match stimuli including physical (always:51%- training; always 70%- matches) and mental (always:42%-training; always 32%- matches) loading, number of sessions (always:54%- training; always 64%- matches), recovery time between matches (always:75%) and travel time, particularly in relation to training (always:54%) domestic away matches (always:47%) and international travel (always:72%), were high contributors to fatigue. For these variables between 25% and 70% indicated they caused fatigue to a large extent. Off-field stresses related directly and indirectly to the job include feeling isolated (always:29%), safety concerns (always:26% in public; always 34% at matches) and lack of job security (always:41%) as well as interactions with other stakeholders. MF was just as pertinent as physical fatigue with most stimuli causing a combination of mental and physical fatigue. Stimuli that included mental loading only (such as fear, feeling isolated, identity, and football and non-football-related scrutiny from other stakeholders) resulted mainly in MF. Feeling isolated (80%), the attitude of family and friends towards their profession (79%) and fan scrutiny and judgement related to non-football matters (77%) were the dominant causes of MF. It must be highlighted that not all these were regular causes of fatigue. Discussion On and off-field occupational stressors cause fatigue in elite football stakeholders. The prevalence of both MF and PF requires more integrated fatigue management strategies which should be further studied to minimize the impact fatigue has on football performance and stakeholder wellbeing. These findings highlight the importance of approaching fatigue management from a holistic perspective and extending attention beyond just the current narrow scope of focus.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Published by Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. All rights reserved.