不同層級足球盃賽場次間隔休息時間之分析

Analysis of rest intervals between matches in official soccer tournaments at different levels

足球盃賽採用短期多場比賽方式，雖可降低經費及縮短時間，但容易造成球員場次間休息時間不足，發生累積疲勞和肌肉損傷現象，進而導致運動表現下降和增加發生運動傷害風險。雖然國際足球總會（FIFA）規定，同一盃賽場次間隔須≥2天，然尚無研究曾探討不同層級足球盃賽場次間隔休息時間是否符合FIFA規範。因此，本文針對上述研究問題進行探討，以釐清主辦單位在安排賽程時，是否有考慮疲勞恢復及產生潛在健康問題。方法：以網路搜尋從各個足球賽事之官方網站，取得最近一屆賽程資訊（如：2023中華民國全國運動會、2022亞洲運動會、2020夏季奧林匹克運動會、2022/2023國際足球總會世界盃）後，再以次級資料分析法計算與分析所有隊伍於場次間隔休息時間。結果：（1）不同層級盃賽場次間隔休息：臺灣（43.3±11.4小時，17.25-89.3小時）<亞洲（85.3±27.9小時，41.8-194.6小時）<世界（95.1±23.7小時，42.2-166.6小時）；（2）亞洲層級男子組盃賽場次間隔休息（92.2±30.6小時，42.8-194.6小時）>女子組（72.3±15.0小時，41.8-142.3小時）；世界層級女子組盃賽場次間隔休息（102.5±27.1小時，66.6-166.6小時）>男子組（88.0±17.3小時，42.2-146.1小時）；臺灣層級男（43.3±9.8小時，17.3-70.3小時）女子組（43.4±14.4小時，22.3-89.3小時）間無差異；（3）男子組盃賽場次間隔休息：臺灣<亞洲=歐洲；女子組：臺灣<亞洲<世界。結論：賽事層級越高，場次間隔休息時間就越長，但不同層級盃賽的場次間安排休息時間似乎都無考量到多場比賽產生的疲勞恢復、增加傷害風險的問題。因此，這些結果可提供給相關體育單位，作為未來主辦足球盃賽安排場次間隔休息之參考依據。

Introduction: Soccer tournaments typically feature a competition format that involves multiple matches over a short period of time. While this approach can help reduce costs and scheduling, it often results in insufficient rest intervals between matches for the players. As a result, players may experience cumulative fatigue and muscle damage, leading to decreased sports performance and an increased risk of injury and illness. Although FIFA regulations require a minimum rest interval of at least two days between matches in any official tournament, no previous study has investigated whether the rest intervals between matches in soccer tournaments at different levels actually meet these standards. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate whether tournament organizers took into account the recovery of muscle fatigue/damage and potential injury and health risks to players when scheduling matches. This is an important question for the safety and well-being of soccer players. Methods: Thorough online research was conducted to obtain the final schedule information for various soccer tournaments (e.g., the 2023 Taiwan National Games, the 2022/2023 AFC Asian Cup, the 2020 Summer Olympics Games, the 2022/2023 FIFA World Cup), representing different competitive levels (Taiwan, Asia, World), from the tournaments’official websites. The rest intervals between matches for all participating teams were analyzed using secondary data analysis. Results: (1) The rest intervals between matches at the Taiwan level (43.3±11.4 hours, 17.25–89.3 hours) were significantly shorter than those at the Asia level (85.3±27.9 hours, 41.8–194.6 hours) and the World level (95.1±23.7 hours, 42.2–166.6 hours), while the rest intervals at the Asia level were significantly shorter than those at the World level. (2) At the Asia level, the rest intervals for men’s teams (92.2±30.6 hours, 42.8–194.6 hours) were significantly longer than those for women’s teams (72.3±15.0 hours, 41.8–142.3 hours). At the World level, the rest intervals for women’s teams (102.5±27.1 hours, 66.6–166.6 hours) were significantly longer than those for men’s teams (88.0±17.3 hours, 42.2–146.1 hours). There was no significant difference in the rest intervals between matches for men’s (43.3±9.8 hours, 17.3–70.3 hours) and women’s (43.4±14.4 hours, 22.3–89.3 hours) teams at the Taiwan level. (3) For men’s teams, the rest intervals at the Taiwan level were significantly shorter than those at the Asia and World level, but there was no significant difference between those at the Asia and World level. (4) For women’s teams, the rest intervals at the Taiwan level were significantly shorter than those at the Asia and World level, and the rest intervals at the Asia level were significantly shorter than those at the World level. Conclusion: In the higher-level tournaments, longer rest intervals between matches were scheduled. It seems, however, that players recovery from matches-induced fatigue and muscle damage was not fully taken into account when arranging rest intervals between matches at any tournament level, particularly at lower-level tournaments. This led to an increased risk of injury and illness resulting from playing multiple matches. These results may therefore offer valuable insights to sports organizations for scheduling match rest intervals in future official soccer tournaments.