Structure of competitive microcycle in team sports

Authors

  • Athanasios Chatzinikolaou Democritus University of Thrace
  • Alexandra Avloniti Democritus University of Thrace
  • Theodoros Stampoulis Democritus University of Thrace
  • Dimitrios Draganidis University of Thessaly
  • Dimitrios Pantazis Democritus University of Thrace
  • Maria Protopapa Democritus University of Thrace
  • Nikolaos Retzepis Democritus University of Thrace
  • Dimitrios Balampanos Democritus University of Thrace
  • Nikolaos Zaras Democritus University of Thrace
  • Antonios Kambas Democritus University of Thrace
  • Ioannis Fatouros University of Thessaly
  • Kyriakos Taxildaris Democritus University of Thrace

Keywords:

physical performance, exercise-induced muscle damage, basketball, soccer, hanball

Abstract

The competitive season in team sports is characterized by long duration and high frequency of matches. It is typical for athletes who participate in one or more matches during a microcycle to experience a decrease in performance and an increased likelihood of musculoskeletal injuries. The goal of each microcycle is recovery from the previous match, training, and peaking performance for the upcoming match. This study aims to present data produced by the Laboratory Department of Physical Performance regarding the impact of one or more matches on performance parameters and biochemical markers for 96-144 hours during a microcycle with and without participation in training sessions. The sports analyzed included football, basketball, handball, and plyometric training similar to volleyball. The study results showed different recovery patterns for each sport, with athletes exhibiting high performance variability and multiple matches worsening their condition. In conclusion, analyzing performance and biochemical markers resulting from participation in one or more matches contributes to structuring microcycles to optimize performance and reduce the risk of injury and overtraining.

References

Bangsbo, J., Marcello Iaia, F., & Krustrup, P. (2007). Brief review Metabolic Response and Fatigue in Soccer. In International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (Vol. 2).

Bangsbo, J., Mohr, M., & Krustrup, P. (2006). Physical and metabolic demands of training and match-play in the elite football player. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(7), 665–674. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500482529

Caparrós, T., Alentorn-Geli, E., Myer, G. D., Capdevila, L., Samuelsson, K., Hamilton, B., & Rodas, G. (2016). The Relationship of Practice Exposure and Injury Rate on Game Performance and Season Success in Professional Male Basketball. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 15(3), 397–402.

Carling, C., Le Gall, F., & Dupont, G. (2012). Are Physical Performance and Injury Risk in a Professional Soccer Team in Match-Play Affected Over a Prolonged Period of Fixture Congestion? International Journal of Sports Medicine, 33(01), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1283190

Chatzinikolaou, A., Christoforidis, C., Avloniti, A., Draganidis, D., Jamurtas, A. Z., Stampoulis, T., Ermidis, G., Sovatzidis, A., Papassotiriou, I., Kambas, A., & Fatouros, I. G. (2014). A Microcycle of Inflammation Following a Team Handball Game. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(7), 1981–1994. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000330

Chatzinikolaou, A., Draganidis, D., Avloniti, A., Karipidis, A., Jamurtas, A. Z., Skevaki, C. L., Tsoukas, D., Sovatzidis, A., Theodorou, A., Kambas, A., Papassotiriou, I., Taxildaris, K., & Fatouros, I. (2014). The microcycle of inflammation and performance changes after a basketball match. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(9), 870–882. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.865251

Chatzinikolaou, A., Fatouros, I. G., Gourgoulis, V., Avloniti, A., Jamurtas, A. Z., Nikolaidis, M. G., Douroudos, I., Michailidis, Y., Beneka, A., Malliou, P., Tofas, T., Georgiadis, I., Mandalidis, D., & Taxildaris, K. (2010). Time Course of Changes in Performance and Inflammatory Responses After Acute Plyometric Exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(5), 1389–1398. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d1d318

Clarkson, P. M., & Hubal, M. J. (2001). Authors: Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Humans Literature Review Contraction-Induced Muscle Injury. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil., 81(11). https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PHM.0000029772.45258.43

Comfort, P., Haff, G. G., Suchomel, T. J., Soriano, M. A., Pierce, K. C., Hornsby, W. G., Haff, E. E., Sommerfield, L. M., Chavda, S., Morris, S. J., Fry, A. C., & Stone, M. H. (2023). National Strength and Conditioning Association Position Statement on Weightlifting for Sports Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(6), 1163–1190. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004476

Cormie, P., McGuigan, M. R., & Newton, R. U. (2011). Developing Maximal Neuromuscular Power. Sports Medicine, 41(1), 17–38. https://doi.org/10.2165/11537690-000000000-00000

Cormier, P., Freitas, T. T., Rubio-Arias, J. Á., & Alcaraz, P. E. (2020). Complex and Contrast Training: Does Strength and Power Training Sequence Affect Performance-Based Adaptations in Team Sports? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(5), 1461–1479. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003493

Draganidis, D., Chatzinikolaou, A., Avloniti, A., Barbero-Álvarez, J. C., Mohr, M., Malliou, P., Gourgoulis, V., Deli, C. K., Douroudos, I. I., Margonis, K., Gioftsidou, A., Fouris, A. D., Jamurtas, A. Z., Koutedakis, Y., & Fatouros, I. G. (2015). Recovery kinetics of knee flexor and extensor strength after a football match. PLoS ONE, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128072

Draganidis, D., Chatzinikolaou, A., Jamurtas, A. Z., Carlos Barbero, J., Tsoukas, D., Theodorou, A. S., Margonis, K., Michailidis, Y., Avloniti, A., Theodorou, A., Kambas, A., & Fatouros, I. (2013). The time-frame of acute resistance exercise effects on football skill performance: The impact of exercise intensity. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(7), 714–722. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.746725

Dupont, G., Nedelec, M., McCall, A., McCormack, D., Berthoin, S., & Wisløff, U. (2010). Effect of 2 Soccer Matches in a Week on Physical Performance and Injury Rate. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 38(9), 1752–1758. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546510361236

Fatouros, I. G., Chatzinikolaou, A., Douroudos, I. I., Nikolaidis, M. G., Kyparos, A., Margonis, K., Michailidis, Y., Vantarakis, A., Taxildaris, K., Katrabasas, I., Mandalidis, D., Kouretas, D., & Jamurtas, A. Z. (2010). Time-Course of Changes in Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status Responses Following a Soccer Game. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(12), 3278–3286. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b60444

Haff. (2025). Scientific Foundations and Practical Applications of Periodization (First edition). Human Kinetics.

Ispirlidis, I., Fatouros, I. G., Jamurtas, A. Z., Nikolaidis, M. G., Michailidis, I., Douroudos, I., Margonis, K., Chatzinikolaou, A., Kalistratos, E., Katrabasas, I., Alexiou, V., & Taxildaris, K. (2008). Time-course of Changes in Inflammatory and Performance Responses Following a Soccer Game. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 18(5), 423–431. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181818e0b

Jamurtas, A. Z., Douroudos, I. I., Deli, C. K., Draganidis, D., Chatzinikolaou, A., Mohr, M., Avloniti, A., Barbero-Álvarez, J. C., Margonis, K., Mavropalias, G., Stampoulis, T., Giannakidou, D., Flouris, A. D., Koutedakis, Y., & Fatouros, I. G. (2015). Iron status markers are only transiently affected by a football game. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33(20), 2088–2099. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1064154

Mchugh, M. P., Connolly, D. A. J., Eston, R. G., & Gleim, G. W. (n.d.). Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Potential Mechanisms for the Repeated Bout Effect.

Mohr, M., Draganidis, D., Chatzinikolaou, A., Barbero-Álvarez, J. C., Castagna, C., Douroudos, I., Avloniti, A., Margeli, A., Papassotiriou, I., Flouris, A. D., Jamurtas, A. Z., Krustrup, P., & Fatouros, I. G. (2016). Muscle damage, inflammatory, immune and performance responses to three football games in 1 week in competitive male players. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(1), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3245-2

Mougios, V. (2007). Reference intervals for serum creatine kinase in athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(10), 674–678. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.034041

Pantazis, D., Avloniti, A., Dimitrios, D., Stampoulis, T., Protopapa, M., Kokkotis, C., Balampanos, D., Arsenis, S., Poulios, A., Papanikolaou, K., Laschou, V. C., Tsimeas, P., Vitkas, G., Papaspanos, N., Zaras, N., Gioftsidou, A., Malliou, P., Michalopoulou, M., Jamurtas, A. Z., … Athanasios, C. (2025). The Effect of Protein Supplementation and Playing Time on Recovery Kinetics During a Congested Basketball Schedule. Nutrients, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010128

Poulios, A., Fatouros, I. G., Mohr, M., Draganidis, D., Deli, C. K., Papanikolaou, K., Sovatzidis, A., Nakopoulou, T., Ermidis, G., Tzatzakis, T., Laschou, V. C., Georgakouli, K., Koulouris, A., Tsimeas, P., Chatzinikolaou, A., Karagounis, L. G., Batsilas, D., Krustrup, P., & Jamurtas, A. Z. (2018). Post-game high protein intake may improve recovery of football-specific performance during a congested game fixture: Results from the PRO-FOOTBALL study. Nutrients, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10040494

Poulios, A., Papanikolaou, K., Draganidis, D., Tsimeas, P., Chatzinikolaou, A., Tsiokanos, A., Jamurtas, A. Z., & Fatouros, I. G. (2024). The Effects of Antioxidant Supplementation on Soccer Performance and Recovery: A Critical Review of the Available Evidence. In Nutrients (Vol. 16, Issue 22). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223803

Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., & Stone, M. H. (2016). The Importance of Muscular Strength in Athletic Performance. Sports Medicine, 46(10), 1419–1449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0486-0

Downloads

Published

2025-06-17

How to Cite

Χατζηνικολάου Α., Αυλωνίτη Α., Σταμπουλής Θ., Δραγανίδης Δ., Πανταζής Δ., Πρωτόπαπα Μ., Ρετζέπης Ν., Μπαλαμπάνος Δ., Ζάρας Ν., Καμπάς Α., Φατούρος Ι., & Ταξιλδάρης Κ. (2025). Structure of competitive microcycle in team sports. Exercise and Society, 1, 349–363. Retrieved from https://ojs.staff.duth.gr/index.php/ExSoc/article/view/561

Issue

Vol. 1 (2025): Special Issue 76

Section

PART III: SCIENTIFIC SELECTIONS BY THE FACULTY MEMBERS OF THE D.P.E.S.S.–D.U.ThH

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

a. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

b. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

c. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).