title: The effect of caffeine ingestion on field hockey skill performance following physical fatigue.
abstract: This study examined the impact of caffeine ingestion on field hockey skill performance following high-intensity fatigue. Thirteen male hockey players (mean age = 21.1 ± 1.2 years) performed hockey sprint dribble and ball handling tests at rest and after a bout of total body fatigue (90% maximal capacity) following caffeine (5 mg kg(-1)) or placebo ingestion. Sprint dribble times were slower postfatigue compared with rest but were significantly faster postfatigue with caffeine compared with postfatigue with placebo ingestion (P < 0.01). Ball handling scores were higher at rest compared with postfatigue, but scores postfatigue were higher following caffeine than placebo ingestion (P < 0.01). Rating of perceived exhaustion (RPE) was lower (P < 0.01) and readiness to invest physical (P < 0.01) and mental effort (P = 0.01) were significantly higher in the caffeine condition. Caffeine ingestion may therefore be effective in offsetting decrements in skilled performance associated with fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular and Sport Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK. michael.duncan@coventry.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006688:Hockey / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine