@Article{Kerkeni2026,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
volume="43",
number="1",
year="2026",
title="Does Ramadan fasting influence time-motion metrics and 
psychophysiological responses in soccer players during small-sided 
games performed in fed and fasted states?",
abstract="We explored how Ramadan fasting (RF) influences GPS-derived time-motion metrics and psychophysiological responses in soccer players during small-sided games (SSG). Twelve semi-professional male players (mean age 21.1 ± 0.7 y; estimated V ̇ O 2max  54.5 ± 2.2 mL/min/kg) participated in four experimental SSG sessions in a within-subject, counterbalanced design. These sessions were scheduled at 15:00 and 21:00 before Ramadan, in a fed state (i.e., BR15 fed  and BR21 fed ), and during the fourth week of Ramadan at 15:00 in a fasted state (DR15 fasted ) and at 21:00 in a fed state (DR21 fed ). Sleep patterns, dietary intake, and insomnia symptoms were evaluated during the week preceding and final week-of-Ramadan. Participants’ Hooper index (wellness) and daytime sleepiness and mood measures were assessed before each session. Time-motion metrics using GPS and exercise heart rate (HR) were assessed during all sessions, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected after each session. Except for a higher number of decelerations in DR21 fed  session (p < 0.001), RF had no significant effect on other time-motion metrics. Absolute and relative exercise HR were higher at BR15 fed  than at BR21 fed  and at DR15 fasted . RPE, Hooper index scores, and perceptual stress and muscle soreness components were higher at DR15 fasted  compared to BR15 fed . Additionally, RF was associated with decreased sleep duration (by ~45 minutes) and increased insomnia symptoms and daytime sleepiness, while mood states and dietary intake were unchanged. RF induced physiological and perceptual changes in response to exercise, particularly in the fasted state. However, SSG performance metrics remained stable, suggesting fasted athletes can maintain short-duration SSG performance regardless of fasting status.",
author="Kerkeni, Mohamed
and Chamari, Karim
and Kerkeni, Manel
and Boukhris, Omar
and Ammar, Achraf
and B. Pyne, David
and Husain, Waqar
and Chtourou, Hamdi
and Aziz, Abdul Rashid
and Jahrami, Haitham
and Trabelsi, Khaled",
pages="679--691",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2026.156231",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.156231"
}