y2020m01b6095 20200129094500 assa nadine@assaf.org.za assa South African Journal of Science S. Afr. J. Sci 1996-7489 01292020 116 1/2 Adele Broodryk Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7396-1775 Cindy Pienaar Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa David Edwards Psychology Department, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa Martinique Sparks Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Up to 95% of a soccer match entails aerobic actions that may cause fatigue. Little is known about the effects of fatigue on the hormonal and psychological states of female players. Cortisol values (saliva sample), state anxiety (Spielberger State-trait Anxiety Inventory) and mood scores (Incredibly Short Profile of Mood States [ISP], comprising six subscales and total mood disturbances [TMD]) of 43 female players (aged 22.0±2.7 years) were taken immediately prior to and 15 min after an aerobic fatiguing test (AFT: Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery [YYIR] test). Cortisol increased (d=0.7, p=0.007) and ISP–confusion and ISP–vigour decreased (d=0.5, p=0.01–0.02). At pre-AFT, a slight positive relationship between cortisol and anxiety-absence (r=0.3, p=0.05) was seen. TMD consistently demonstrated a strong relationship with all ISP and anxiety scores (r>0.4, p less than 0.01). Post-AFT results demonstrated a positive relationship between cortisol and blood lactate (r=0.3, p=0.04), between ISP–anger with maximal heart rate (r=0.3, p=0.03), ISP–anger and YYIR level as well as ISP–fatigue (r=0.4, p=0.04), and between perceived exertion rate and ISP–vigour (r=-0.4, p=0.008) as well as ISP–fatigue (r=0.3, p=0.05). Fatigue caused by prolonged activity may be a greater physiological than psychological stressor, although both may affect soccer performance. We recommend training players to increase their aerobic capacity to ensure maximal quality match-time before fatigue and its subsequent adverse physiological and psychological effects set in. 01292020 1 10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark sajs.co.za false 2019-03-03 2019-09-08 2020-01-29 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 10.17159/sajs.2020/6095 20200129094500 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095/9697 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095/9697 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095/9697 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095/9697 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095/9697 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095/9697 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6095/9697