Does Physical Conditioning Influence Performance Attenuation and Recovery in Gaelic Football?

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of components of fitness on measures of performance attenuation and recovery following Gaelic football match play. Methods: Measurements of players’ anthropometric characteristics, body composition, running speed, lower-body strength and power, blood lactate concentrations, running economy, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO ^∙₂max) were taken over 2 separate days 1 week prior to a competitive match. Creatine kinase, countermovement jump height, drop jump height, contact time, reactive strength index, and perceptual responses were tested prematch, at full time, 24 hours postmatch, and 48 hours postmatch. Results: Multiple components of fitness were associated with reduced performance attenuation and improved recovery responses (adjusted R² = 9.8%–27.6%; P < .05). Players were divided into higher-standard and lower-standard VO ^∙₂max (higher standard: 57.4 [4.2] mL·kg^-1·min^-1; lower standard: 45.3 [3.8] mL·kg^-1·min^-1) and relative squat (higher standard: 1.46 [0.11] 1-repetition-maximum kg·body mass^-1; lower standard: 1.20 [0.08] 1-repetition-maximum kg·body mass^-1) groups. After adjusting for prematch baseline differences, there were significant differences between VO ^∙₂max groups in drop jump height at 24 hours postmatch (η²_p = .078 - .154; P < .05) and countermovement jump height at 48 hours postmatch (η²_p = .134; P < .05), where the lower-standard group displayed larger decrements. In addition, there were significant differences between relative squat groups at all postmatch time points in contact time (η²_p = .156 - .194; P < .05) and reactive strength index (η²_p = .127 - .223; P < .05) and in perceptual responses at 24 hours postmatch (η²_p = .152; P < .05), where the lower-standard group expressed larger decrements. Conclusion: Coaches should prioritize the development of aerobic capacity and neuromuscular function as an effective method of reducing performance attenuation and enhancing recovery kinetics in Gaelic football.