Common sense would suggest that yes, of course it does. However, I recently read an article on a site called sportscasting and was not surprised in the slightest at how far teams travel in pre-season. With that said, players in England's elite have the best healthcare/doctors/physios etc at their disposal so recovering from slight injuries and fatigue is normally quite quick. Nonetheless it did get me thinking, those clubs and players who typically tour the USA/Asia – does it catch up with them around Christmas time?Especially players who compete in European football from September onwards. There is so much emphasis and questions centred around player burn out in the modern era – normally with high profile stars highlighting the 'unhealthy' number of games they have to contest. I just wondered what others thought about those who have to cover thousands of miles before the campaign has even gotten underway.
by 9horlb81
4 comments
If you travel a lot in July and this catches up to you at Christmas then you have bigger issues.
There is no way any healthy human should feel tired 5 months after a long trip due to that long trip.
>does it catch up with them around Christmas time?
I don’t think so.
It’s not like the are travelling in economy and I am not sure I could argue with work that I am fatigued from that long flight I had 3 months ago.
The burnout is likely down to the games they play and travel during the season in quick succession rather than pre season.
If you asked me to get 3 hour coach journey down to London on a friday to stay over night to play a game Saturday afternoon. Get a 3 hour coach journey back.
Waking up on Sunday and going to training. Then going to training on Monday.
Then catching a flight Tuesday morning to go play in Europe where you stay over night and fly back Wednesday.
Go to training on Thursday then repeat the cycle on the Friday.
I would be knackered doing this for most the year.
I would say this is no different than for example when the clocks go back…
So you read an article that cited no sources. There’s plenty of peer reviewed articles that show how much of a difference it makes to travel long distances. Particularly just before/during the rugby world cup in Japan