Monitoring changes in rugby league players' perceived stress and recovery during intensified training

This study assessed if the recovery stress questionnaire (RESTQ-Sport) could be used to monitor changes in perceived stress and recovery during intensified training in rugby league players. Twenty semi-professional rugby league players were divided into two even groups that were randomly assigned to complete six weeks of Normal Training or Intensified Training, each followed with a seven day taper. Multistage fitness test performance and RESTQ-Sport measures were taken at the beginning, at fortnightly intervals and at the end of the training period. Endurance performance significantly decreased with Intensified Training and returned to baseline levels following the taper, while remaining unchanged in the Normal Training group. There was also a relationship between the RESTQ-Sport scores with training, with stress subscales (Fatigue, Disturbed Breaks, and General Stress) increasing and recovery subscale measures (Success, Physical Recovery, Being in Shape, Self Efficacy, Social Relaxation, General Well-Being, and Sleep Quality) decreasing in the Intensified Training group and then normalising following the taper (Stress subscales: Fatigue and General Stress; Recovery subscales: Physical Recovery and General Well-Being). These results show that the RESTQ-Sport is a practical psychometric tool for monitoring responses to training in team sport athletes.