Post-Exercise Recovery Strategies Employed by Moroccan Football Teams

Background: For elite football teams, incorporating recovery strategies during busy schedules is essential to mitigate post-match fatigue, restore optimal performance levels, and minimize injury risks. Football players employed a variety of methods, including natural, nutritional, physical, psychological, and alternative ones. Therefore, our objective was to describe and analyze the use of recovery strategies by Moroccan football teams. Methods : A total of 29 Moroccan football teams, including 16 from Botola Pro D1 and 13 from Botola Pro D2, took part in this study during the 2023-2024 season. Members of the teams' technical or medical staff were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of 12 sections, aimed at evaluating the post-exercise recovery strategies employed after matches and training sessions.Results : Teams utilized various recovery protocols and combinations; three physical strategies were particularly prevalent in post-competition and training session : cold therapy (used by 96% of the teams), stretching (89%), and massage (86%). Additionally, 64% implemented recovery strategies immediately following exercise., and 75% personalized recovery plans for each player. A multidisciplinary approach was utilized by 86% of the teams in the design and supervision of recovery protocols. Furthermore, 86% of the teams reported having adequate logistical and economic resources to implement recovery protocols. Conclusion : The survey provided valuable insights into how professional football teams in Morocco are currently employing recovery methods, revealing that most teams are incorporating them to varying extents. However, the implementation of recovery strategies is still not as widespread as it is among teams in other countries.