Cortisol and Stress Responses During a Game and Practice in Female Collegiate Soccer Players

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the cortisol responses from a regular season game and a typical practice session in female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate soccer players. Eighteen players were assigned to 2 groups, 10 starters and 8 nonstarters, depending on their playing time. Salivary cortisol concentration, as well as competitive sport anxiety (somatic and cognitive anxiety, self-confidence), was monitored before and after 1 regular season game and 1 typical practice session. Although salivary cortisol levels increased postgame for both starters (+250%) and nonstarters (+140%), they increased to a greater extent for the starters. Practice salivary cortisol did not significantly change (p > 0.05). Cognitive and somatic anxiety was greater pre- and postgame when compared with the pre- and postpractice scores, respectively. These data clearly demonstrate the psychological and physiological differences between soccer competition and practice in collegiate women. It appears that both physiological and psychological variables combine to contribute to the large stress hormone response to an actual competitive game.

Preliminary results on organization on the court, physical and technical performance of Brazilian professional futsal players: comparison between friendly pre-season and official match

“…Previous studies suggest that athletes undergo greater psycho-physiologic stress during an official match (Haneishi et al, 2007;Moreira, McGuigan, Arruda, Freitas, & Aoki, 2012). Organization on the court, technical and physical performances were also significantly different between the FM and OM.…”

Effects of Official Basketball Competition on the Levels of Cortisol and Salivary Immunoglobulin (A) among female children

“…Studies on the nature of children basketball competitions show that competitive stress and excitement levels accompanied by the competition are among the main effective factors in cortisol secretion [27]. SedqRuhi et al investigated the effect of official basketball competition on the testosterone and serum cortisol among 22 young female basketball players.…”

Resposta imuno-endócrina associada à partida de futsal

“…Embora os autores tenham reportado incremento individual no nível de Cs, não foi constatada variação estatisticamente significante (p = 0,06) desse parâmetro quando comparados os momentos pré e pós-simulação. Esse comportamento do Cs também foi observado em jogadoras de futebol após uma sessão de treinamento (HANEISHI et al, 2007). A sessão de treinamento não foi capaz de gerar estresse suficiente para resultar em aumento do Cs, que passou de 17,7 para 22,4 nmol·L -1 do momento pré para o momento pós-treinamento.…”

“…Por exemplo, Elloumi et al (2003) observaram que a resposta do cortisol salivar (Cs) em jogadores de rúgbi após uma partida competitiva é 2,5 vezes maior do que o valor encontrado no dia de descanso. Em investigação realizada com jogadoras de futebol de campo, verificou-se aumento no Cs em situação de competição, entretanto, em resposta a uma sessão de treinamento, não houve aumento na concentração desse hormônio (HANEISHI et al, 2007).…”