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

NCT07314645 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024/5635
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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

Conditions

Sleep Deprivation; Athletic Performance; Fatigue

Keywords

Daytime Napping; Sleep Inertia; Perceived Exertion; Mood State; Agility; Repeated Sprint Ability; Chronotype

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Pro Agility Test

  Change-of-direction performance assessed using the Pro Agility Test (20-yard shuttle run). Participants will complete the test following each experimental condition (no nap, 25-minute nap, and 45-minute nap). The total time to complete the test will be recorded in seconds using an electronic timing system.

  Immediately after completion of each experimental condition, within a single testing session.

• Best sprint (s)

  Best sprint time measured during a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test. Participants will perform a standardized RSA protocol consisting of repeated maximal sprints with fixed recovery intervals. The fastest single sprint time achieved during each RSA test will be recorded in seconds for each experimental condition (no nap, 25-minute nap, and 45-minute nap) using an electronic timing system.

  During each experimental testing session, immediately following the nap or no-nap condition.

• Total sprint (s)

  Total sprint time measured during a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test. Participants will perform a standardized RSA protocol consisting of repeated maximal sprints separated by fixed recovery intervals. Total sprint time will be calculated as the sum of all sprint times completed during the RSA test for each experimental condition (no nap, 25-minute nap, and 45-minute nap) and recorded in seconds using an electronic timing system.

  During each experimental testing session, immediately following the nap or no-nap condition.

• 4. Rate of Perceived Exertipon (RPE)

  Perceived exertion assessed using the Borg 6-20 Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Participants will report their perceived exertion immediately after each sprint during the repeated-sprint ability test. The mean RPE score for each testing session will be calculated for each experimental condition.

  Immediately after completion of the repeated-sprint ability test in each experimental session.

• Hooper Index

  Subjective recovery status assessed using the Hooper Questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluates perceived fatigue, stress, muscle soreness, and sleep quality using standardized Likert-scale ratings. Participants will complete the Hooper Questionnaire following each experimental condition (no nap, 25-minute nap, and 45-minute nap), and a total Hooper Index score will be calculated for each session.

  After completion of each experimental session, following the nap or no-nap condition.

• Subjective Alertness (VAS)

  Subjective alertness will be assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Participants will rate their perceived level of alertness on a 100-mm horizontal line anchored by "extremely sleepy" at one end and "fully alert" at the other. VAS assessments will be completed following each experimental condition (no nap, 25-minute nap, and 45-minute nap), and the distance from the left anchor will be recorded in millimeters as the alertness score.

  After completion of each experimental session, following the nap or no-nap condition.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

  At baseline, prior to the first experimental session.

• Resting Heart Rate (HR)

  At baseline, prior to the first experimental session.

• Profile of Mood States (POMS)

  At baseline, prior to the first experimental session.

Study Arms (3)

No Nap

EXPERIMENTAL

No Nap Conditions

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

25 Min Nap

EXPERIMENTAL

25 Min Nap Conditions

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

45 Min Nap

EXPERIMENTAL

45 Min Nap Conditions

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

Interventions

Repeated-Sprint Ability (RSA) Test BEHAVIORAL

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.

25 Min Nap; 45 Min Nap; No Nap

Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) BEHAVIORAL

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; 45 Min Nap; No Nap

Pro Agility Test BEHAVIORAL

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.

25 Min Nap; 45 Min Nap; No Nap

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 19 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uludag University: lead
• Inonu University: collaborator
• Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Inonu University

Malatya, Malatya, 44000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• 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.

  PMID: 40141767 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Deprivation; Fatigue; Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic

Study Officials

• Mertkan Öncü, MsC

  Uludag University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Monira I. Aldhahi, PhD

  Nourah bint Abdulrahman University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 21, 2025
• First Posted: January 2, 2026
• Study Start: May 10, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 18, 2024
• Study Completion: May 18, 2024
• Last Updated: January 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)