Strategic Daytime Napping Enhances Agility and Lowers Perceived Exertion But Does Not Improve Fatigue Resistance in Adolescent Soccer Players
NCT ID: NCT07314645
Last Updated: 2026-01-02
Study Results
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Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
16 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-05-10
2024-05-18
Brief Summary
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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
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
CROSSOVER
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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No Nap
No Nap Conditions
Pro Agility Test
The Pro Agility Test (20-yard shuttle run) evaluates change-of-direction speed. Participants started from the center point, ran 5 yards to the left, then 10 yards to the right, and finally 5 yards back to the center. The total distance was 18.28 meters, and the time to complete the sequence was recorded. Agility and RSA timings were recorded using a dual-beam electronic timing system (SmarTracks, Germany) with a sampling frequency of 1,000 Hz, positioned at the start and finish lines at hip level. This minimized human error and ensured millisecond precision.
Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test
The RSA test measures an athlete's ability to repeatedly produce maximal sprint efforts with limited recovery. This study employed 6 × 30-meter sprints with 20-second rest intervals between each sprint, a protocol commonly used in team sports to assess anaerobic endurance.
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
RPE was assessed using the Borg Scale (6-20), which captures the participant's subjective effort during physical activity. RPE was recorded immediately after each sprint during the RSA Test, and the average RPE score represented overall perceived exertion for the session.
25 Min Nap
25 Min Nap Conditions
Pro Agility Test
The Pro Agility Test (20-yard shuttle run) evaluates change-of-direction speed. Participants started from the center point, ran 5 yards to the left, then 10 yards to the right, and finally 5 yards back to the center. The total distance was 18.28 meters, and the time to complete the sequence was recorded. Agility and RSA timings were recorded using a dual-beam electronic timing system (SmarTracks, Germany) with a sampling frequency of 1,000 Hz, positioned at the start and finish lines at hip level. This minimized human error and ensured millisecond precision.
Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test
The RSA test measures an athlete's ability to repeatedly produce maximal sprint efforts with limited recovery. This study employed 6 × 30-meter sprints with 20-second rest intervals between each sprint, a protocol commonly used in team sports to assess anaerobic endurance.
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
RPE was assessed using the Borg Scale (6-20), which captures the participant's subjective effort during physical activity. RPE was recorded immediately after each sprint during the RSA Test, and the average RPE score represented overall perceived exertion for the session.
45 Min Nap
45 Min Nap Conditions
Pro Agility Test
The Pro Agility Test (20-yard shuttle run) evaluates change-of-direction speed. Participants started from the center point, ran 5 yards to the left, then 10 yards to the right, and finally 5 yards back to the center. The total distance was 18.28 meters, and the time to complete the sequence was recorded. Agility and RSA timings were recorded using a dual-beam electronic timing system (SmarTracks, Germany) with a sampling frequency of 1,000 Hz, positioned at the start and finish lines at hip level. This minimized human error and ensured millisecond precision.
Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test
The RSA test measures an athlete's ability to repeatedly produce maximal sprint efforts with limited recovery. This study employed 6 × 30-meter sprints with 20-second rest intervals between each sprint, a protocol commonly used in team sports to assess anaerobic endurance.
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
RPE was assessed using the Borg Scale (6-20), which captures the participant's subjective effort during physical activity. RPE was recorded immediately after each sprint during the RSA Test, and the average RPE score represented overall perceived exertion for the session.
Interventions
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Pro Agility Test
The Pro Agility Test (20-yard shuttle run) evaluates change-of-direction speed. Participants started from the center point, ran 5 yards to the left, then 10 yards to the right, and finally 5 yards back to the center. The total distance was 18.28 meters, and the time to complete the sequence was recorded. Agility and RSA timings were recorded using a dual-beam electronic timing system (SmarTracks, Germany) with a sampling frequency of 1,000 Hz, positioned at the start and finish lines at hip level. This minimized human error and ensured millisecond precision.
Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test
The RSA test measures an athlete's ability to repeatedly produce maximal sprint efforts with limited recovery. This study employed 6 × 30-meter sprints with 20-second rest intervals between each sprint, a protocol commonly used in team sports to assess anaerobic endurance.
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
RPE was assessed using the Borg Scale (6-20), which captures the participant's subjective effort during physical activity. RPE was recorded immediately after each sprint during the RSA Test, and the average RPE score represented overall perceived exertion for the session.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* having no history of illness or injury
* no regular napping habit
Exclusion Criteria
* hyperactivity
* sleep disorders
* sleep problems on protocol days
16 Years
19 Years
MALE
No
Sponsors
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Inonu University
OTHER
Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
OTHER
Uludag University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Mertkan Öncü
Research Assistant
Principal Investigators
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Mertkan Öncü, MsC
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
Uludag University
Monira I. Aldhahi, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
Locations
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Inonu University
Malatya, Malatya, Turkey (Türkiye)
Countries
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References
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Eken O, Oncu M, Kurtoglu A, Bozkurt O, Turkmen M, Aldhahi MI. The Acute Effects of 25- Versus 60-Minute Naps on Agility and Vertical Jump Performance in Elite Youth Soccer Players: The Role of Individual Chronotype. Life (Basel). 2025 Mar 7;15(3):422. doi: 10.3390/life15030422.
Provided Documents
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Document Type: Study Protocol
Other Identifiers
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2024/5635
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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