Introduction: Previous research has shown that sport performance can be facilitated in football using regulatory fit. However, little research has investigated effects of regulatory fit on performance and psychological responses within pressure conditions. Objective: To examine whether female football players experiencing promotion fit will perform better during a football passing task under perceived pressure, compared to a neutral (no fit; control) condition. Methods: In a pre–post-test, independent groups study design, 33 (M=18.03, SD=2.52) female football players were assigned into either an experimental group (n:15, i.e., promotion fit) or a control group (n:18, i.e., no fit). Participants completed a passing drill within two conditions, that is pre-test in no pressure and post-test in pressure, wherein the experimental group received promotion fit instructions while the control group received neutral instructions. Participants also completed a series of psychological measures that are relevant in the study of the performance–pressure relationship (i.e., affect, anxiety, self-confidence, and mental effort). Results: Participants in the promotion fit (experimental) group were protected against performance deterioration to a greater extent than participants in the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group showed psychological responses when performing under pressure that can explain why their performance was protected from deterioration: no difference in mental effort, cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, self-confidence and negative affect. Conclusion: Female football players experiencing promotion fit were protected against performance deterioration when performing under pressure. Such promotion fit experience influenced various psychological responses in the direction that are known to be beneficial in sport context when performing under perceived pressure. / Introduktion: Tidigare forskning visar att prestation inom idrott kan underlättas genom användningen av Regulatory fit. Dock, få studier har undersökt effekten av Regulatory fit på prestation och psykologiska reponser under pressade omständigheter. Objektiv: Att undersöka om kvinnliga fotbollsspelare under upplevelsen av promotion fit presterar bättre under upplevd press i en passningsövning, i jämförelse med fotbollsspelare som inte upplever promotion fit (kontrollgrupp) i en passningsövning. Metod: I ett för- och efter-test, oberoende gruppdesign, 33 (M=18.3, SD=2.52) kvinnliga fotbollsspelare tilldelades till antingen en experimentgrupp (n=15, i.e., promotion fit) eller en kontrollgrupp (n=18, i.e., inte fit). Deltagarna genomförde en passningsövning under två förhållanden, vilket innebar, för-test utan press och efter-test med press, där experimentgruppen erhöll instruktioner i promotion fit medan kontrollgruppen erhöll neutrala instruktioner. Deltagarna genomförde även en rad olika psykologiska mätningar som bär relevans inom området rörande press och prestation (i.e., affekt, ångest, självförtroende och mental ansträngning). Resultat: Deltagarna som upplevde promotion fit (experimentgrupp) skyddades mot försämring i prestation i större utsträckning än deltagarna i kontrollgruppen. Fortsättningsvis, experimentgruppen uppvisade psykologiska responser som kan förklara varför prestation under press var skyddat mot försämring: ingen förändring i mental ansträngning, kognitiv oro, somatisk oro, självförtroende och negativ affekt. Konklusion: Resultaten indikerar att kvinnliga fotbollsspelare som upplever promotion fit är skyddade mot försämring i prestation under upplevd press. Upplevelsen av promotion fit influerade diverse psykologiska repsonser i den riktning som anses vara fördelaktig inom idrottssammanhang vid prestation under upplevd press.

A ninety minute competitive soccer match consists of many intermittent sprints resulting in fatigue, and consequently, a reduction in skill performance. The combination of caffeine and carbohydrate (CHO) has been shown to have ergogenic effects which help maintain skill measures during fatiguing states, however, there has been little research investigating this combination on soccer performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of three sports drinks, including a placebo (PLA), a 6% CHO drink, and CHO + caffeine (CCAF; 5 mg/Kg body mass (BM)) on soccer-specific skills, throughout a fatigue-inducing soccer match. Twelve male soccer players completed three ninety minute intersquad matches played outdoors on a grass field in a randomized crossover design. Players consumed 5 ml/kg BM 45 minutes prior to kickoff and 3 ml/kg BM every 15 minutes during match play. Soccer passing skill was measured using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT), shot speed, and 20m sprint performance were measured pre-match, immediately at halftime and immediately post-match. Countermovement jump (CMJ) was measured pre-match and post-match. Heart rate (HR) was measured continuously. Blood lactate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and perceived fatigue were assessed every fifteen minutes throughout the match. Urine was collected pre-match for analysis of urine specific gravity (USG). BM was measured pre-match and post-match. LSPT total performance time was significantly better in the CCAF trial compared to the PLA trial at halftime (55.3 ± 10.3 s vs 66.5 ±8.7 s, p = .027). There were also significant improvements in penalty time (CCAF 8.2 ± 7.6 s vs. PLA 16.6 ± 7.8 s, p = .042) and movement time (CCAF 8.2 ± 7.6 s vs. PLA 16.6 ± 7.8 s, p = .028) during the CCAF trial in comparison to the PLA at halftime. HR and blood lactate was elevated throughout the PLA trial in comparison to the CHO trial. There were no other significant findings. Most players (50% - 83%) started all three matches in a dehydrated state (USG > 1.020). The CHO trial had significantly lower sweat rates (0.83 ± 0.25 L/hr) than both the PLA trial (1.06 ± 0.26 L/hr, p = .038) and the CCAF trial (1.11 ± 0.19 L/hr, p = .009). The addition of caffeine to a CHO sports drink significantly improved passing performance (quicker completion time and fewer penalties accumulated) over a PLA. All three sports drinks appeared to be equally as effective in preventing deterioration of soccer skill performance during a game situation. This suggests that the total volume of fluid consumed is of greater importance than the type of fluid. Caffeine appeared to have limited ergogenic effects on skill performance without any negative consequences. / Graduate