Changes in subjective mental and physical fatigue during netball games in elite development athletes

Objectives
To assess the magnitude of changes in, and relationships between, physical and mental fatigue pre-to-post match in elite development netballers.

Design
Observational.

Methods
Twelve female netballers (21.3 ± 2.9 years) competing in the Australian Netball League reported perceptual measures of mental and physical fatigue pre- and post-match on 12 separate competition occasions. Minutes played, to allow for calculation of weighted changes (ratings proportional to playing time), positional groups and performance analysis variables were also assessed.

Results
Post-match ratings were higher (p < 0.01) than pre-match for both mental (pre: 31.02 ± 19.28; post: 44.73 ± 24.47) and physical fatigue (pre: 28.86 ± 15.37; post: 47.21 ± 24.67). The correlation coefficient between change in mental and physical fatigue (r = 0.37, p < 0.01) revealed a shared variance of 13.9%. Acute changes in mental fatigue were related to minutes played (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) as was change in physical fatigue (r = 0.59, p < 0.01). No differences in change in mental fatigue were found between positional groups (p = 0.07) though change in physical fatigue was higher for shooters compared to defenders (p < 0.05). Performance variables revealed no relationships with mental or physical fatigue, with the exception of turnover number with both post-match weighted physical (r= -0.23, p < 0.01) and weighted-change in physical fatigue (r = −0.16, p < 0.05).

Conclusions
Mental and physical fatigue were found to increase across netball matches in elite development athletes. Mental fatigue emerged as a largely separate construct to physical fatigue.