Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s football

Objectives To determine whether the structures and processes of an English Championship football club’s performance and healthcare team (PHCT) were associated with player availability (PA) during periods of match congestion (≤3 days between matches).Methods This sequential explanatory mixed-method c...

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Main Authors: Carly D McKay, Kunle Odetoyinbo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
Online Access:https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/3/e002664.full
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author Carly D McKay
Kunle Odetoyinbo
author_facet Carly D McKay
Kunle Odetoyinbo
author_sort Carly D McKay
collection DOAJ
description Objectives To determine whether the structures and processes of an English Championship football club’s performance and healthcare team (PHCT) were associated with player availability (PA) during periods of match congestion (≤3 days between matches).Methods This sequential explanatory mixed-method case study included 10 practitioners from the PHCT. Participants completed team process/structure questionnaires two times per month during the 2017–2018 season. PA and match frequency data were provided by the PHCT, who also participated in a postseason focus group. Associations between PA and team structures/processes were assessed using Pearson correlations. Framework analysis was used to explore PHCT perceptions of teamwork effectiveness. Results synthesis was guided by the Integrated Team Effectiveness Model.Results Mean PA during match congestion was 78.1% (95% bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap CI (BCa): 76.2%, 80.4%) compared with 84.2% (95% BCa: 80.6%, 87.3%) during uncongested periods. There were significant associations between match frequency and PA (r= −0.68; 95% BCa: 0.32, 0.93; p=0.008) and PHCT processes and PA (r=0.53; 95% BCa: 0.09, 0.89; p=0.035). Having more PHCT meetings (r=0.46; BCa 95%: 0.22, 0.82; p=0.048) and greater satisfaction with those meetings (r=0.41; BCa 95%: 0.04, 0.07; p=0.043) were associated with higher PA, irrespective of match frequency. During match congestion, the PHCT reported that resource and task coordination issues negatively impacted their processes.Conclusions Match congestion was associated with disruptions to PHCT processes and structure, with negative implications for PA.
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spelling doaj-art-e1040e9c99bc4720820ffbc1b181d5d52025-08-20T02:40:58ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472025-07-0111310.1136/bmjsem-2025-002664Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s footballCarly D McKay0Kunle Odetoyinbo1UK Collaborating Centre on Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, Bath, UKESPARC Ltd/University of Bath, Bath, UKObjectives To determine whether the structures and processes of an English Championship football club’s performance and healthcare team (PHCT) were associated with player availability (PA) during periods of match congestion (≤3 days between matches).Methods This sequential explanatory mixed-method case study included 10 practitioners from the PHCT. Participants completed team process/structure questionnaires two times per month during the 2017–2018 season. PA and match frequency data were provided by the PHCT, who also participated in a postseason focus group. Associations between PA and team structures/processes were assessed using Pearson correlations. Framework analysis was used to explore PHCT perceptions of teamwork effectiveness. Results synthesis was guided by the Integrated Team Effectiveness Model.Results Mean PA during match congestion was 78.1% (95% bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap CI (BCa): 76.2%, 80.4%) compared with 84.2% (95% BCa: 80.6%, 87.3%) during uncongested periods. There were significant associations between match frequency and PA (r= −0.68; 95% BCa: 0.32, 0.93; p=0.008) and PHCT processes and PA (r=0.53; 95% BCa: 0.09, 0.89; p=0.035). Having more PHCT meetings (r=0.46; BCa 95%: 0.22, 0.82; p=0.048) and greater satisfaction with those meetings (r=0.41; BCa 95%: 0.04, 0.07; p=0.043) were associated with higher PA, irrespective of match frequency. During match congestion, the PHCT reported that resource and task coordination issues negatively impacted their processes.Conclusions Match congestion was associated with disruptions to PHCT processes and structure, with negative implications for PA.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/3/e002664.full
spellingShingle Carly D McKay
Kunle Odetoyinbo
Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s football
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
title Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s football
title_full Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s football
title_fullStr Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s football
title_full_unstemmed Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s football
title_short Performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men’s football
title_sort performance and healthcare team processes and structure impact player availability in professional men s football
url https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/3/e002664.full
work_keys_str_mv AT carlydmckay performanceandhealthcareteamprocessesandstructureimpactplayeravailabilityinprofessionalmensfootball
AT kunleodetoyinbo performanceandhealthcareteamprocessesandstructureimpactplayeravailabilityinprofessionalmensfootball