Background and Purpose: Considering the importance of enhancing athletic performance and improving the physiological abilities of football players, it is essential to investigate the effects of nutritional supplements such as caffeine under competitive conditions. This study aimed to compare the acute effects of caffeine gum and capsule consumption before and during small-sided football games on the performance of football players.
Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental, single-blind study involved sixteen players from national leagues (age, 20.2±2.7 years; weight, 74.5±11.3 kg), who participated voluntarily. The participants completed the training protocol under five conditions: control, placebo, capsule, gum, and a combination of caffeine capsule and gum. The training protocol included small-sided football games in two halves. During the second half, variables such as displacement distance and time spent with heart rates above 80% and 90% of the maximum were measured using a heart rate monitor. At the end of the training, speed and long jump tests were performed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.
Results: The results showed that in the displacement variable, the combination condition had significant differences with control (p=0.003), placebo (p=0.006), and capsule (p=0.021). Significant differences were also observed between the gum condition with control (p=0.032) and placebo (p=0.035). For the time spent with heart rates above 80%, the combination condition showed significant differences with control (p=0.001) and placebo (p=0.001). In addition, the gum condition significantly differed from placebo (p=0.004) and control (p=0.05). The capsule condition also significantly differed from control (p=0.049). Similar results were observed for the time spent with heart rates above 90%. In the long jump variable, the combination condition showed significant differences with control (p=0.030) and capsule (p=0.046), while the gum condition significantly differed from control (p=0.011). In the speed variable, the combination condition showed significant differences with control (p=0.002) and placebo (p=0.024). Similarly, the gum condition was significantly different from control (p=0.017) and placebo (p=0.034).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that all three caffeine consumption methods positively influence players' performance. However, the combination of caffeine capsules and gum can improve football players' performance more effectively during the second half.