Perceptual Well-Being and Sleep Patterns Are Negatively Impacted Surrounding Games Irrespective of Schedule Among Elite Basketball Referees: An Exploratory, Observational Study

Evaluate changes in well-being and sleep surrounding regular and condensed game schedules among elite basketball referees. Eleven referees officiating in the Australian Women's National Basketball League competition completed a daily questionnaire to quantify well-being (sleep quality, mood, stress fatigue, muscle soreness, and total well-being z-score) and sleep patterns (bedtime, waketime, and time in bed) from the previous night throughout the 2020 season. Linear mixed models and Hedges gav were used to assess differences in well-being and sleep patterns before and after games during regular (one game), condensed schedules (two game on consecutive days), and compared to baseline (no game). During regular schedules, greater fatigue (P = .010, small) and poorer well-being z-score (P = .047, small) were observed on post-game mornings compared to pre-game mornings. Moreover, pre-game bedtime was earlier compared to baseline (P = .019, small), and post-game (P <.001, moderate) nights. During condensed schedules, fatigue was improved on mornings before the first game (pre-game1) compared to baseline days (P = .029, moderate) but worsened on mornings following the second game (post-game2) than pre-game1 (P < .001, large) and on post-game2 than baseline days (P = .020, moderate). Well-being z-score was reduced on post-game2 compared to pre-game1 (P = .040, moderate). Referees experienced poorer well-being and greater fatigue on mornings following games, with increases in fatigue accentuated during condensed schedules. Sleep patterns were subtly impacted during regular schedules only. Adequate recovery strategies and sleep opportunities should be planned for referees surrounding games to maintain their well-being.