Energy, Stress, and Victory: The Hidden Side of Sports Performance
From competitive stress to circadian rhythms: what science tells us about cortisol, testosterone, and other key hormones in the hours before the game

 

 

Introduction

In the context of physical preparation for team sports like basketball, most of the focus tends to fall on technical, tactical, and physical aspects. However, an increasing number of studies highlight the crucial role played by acute and anticipatory hormonal responses during the pre-competition phase.

Hormones such as cortisol, testosterone, IGF-1, leptin, and other endocrine signals react to psychological, environmental, and metabolic stimuli. Understanding these mechanisms helps coaches and strength & conditioning professionals to better interpret athlete readiness, adjust workloads, predict individual responses, and — when possible — influence the conditions surrounding a competition.

 

 

  1. Key Hormones in the Pre-Competition Phase: A Brief Overview

  • Cortisol: the main “stress hormone,” increasing in response to perceived threat or emotional intensity. Elevated cortisol levels may indicate pre-competition anxiety, excessive psychological load, or disrupted recovery processes.
  • Testosterone: anabolic hormone linked to power, motivation, and competitive drive. It may rise before competition, especially when the match is perceived as a challenge.
  • IGF-1: Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, involved in recovery and adaptation. Its levels are highly sensitive to energy availability and nutritional status.
  • Leptin, ghrelin, insulin: metabolic hormones that regulate appetite, energy use, and hormonal balance. They shift rapidly in low energy availability states, impacting performance and endocrine function.

 

 

  1. What Influences Hormonal Fluctuations Before a Game?

 

      a) Competitive Environment and Match Context
  • Home vs away matches: Research (Arruda, 2014) shows that pre-match testosterone is often higher during home games, likely due to increased motivation and a greater sense of control.
  • Opponent strength: Arruda et al. (2017) found that pre-match cortisol rises when facing a stronger opponent, while testosterone levels also increase in anticipation of difficult matches.
  • Sport type: Individual vs team sports show different patterns, but both elicit an anticipatory cortisol response before competition (van Paridon et al., meta-analysis).

 

       b) Psychological Factors
  • Somatic and cognitive anxiety: Competitive anxiety alters endocrine responses. Cortisol tends to rise with worry and tension, whereas testosterone may correlate with confidence and perceived control (Gonzalez-Bono et al.).
  • Perceived self-efficacy: Hormonal shifts are not necessarily related to the outcome (win/loss), but rather to how involved and effective the athlete feels during the event.

 

      c) Circadian Rhythm and Timing
  • Cortisol follows a strong diurnal rhythm, peaking in the morning and declining during the day. Training or competing at different times affects hormonal readiness and overall performance (O’Donnell et all).
  • Other hormones (melatonin, insulin, leptin) are also sensitive to circadian timing, suggesting that matching prep schedules with competition timing is a strategic choice, not just a logistical one.

 

      d) Sex and Menstrual Cycle (in female athletes)
  • Female athletes show more variable hormonal responses, affected by menstrual cycle phase, energy status, and luteal/follicular shifts (Suela Xhufi et all, 2025).
  • In low energy availability, there are significant changes in leptin, cortisol, and even suppression of reproductive hormone function. These factors are crucial in monitoring female performance in the pre-game period.

 

 

  1. Practical Implications for Coaches and Performance Staff

Integrating hormonal understanding into sport preparation can lead to:

  • Better interpretation of subjective metrics (e.g., RPE, mood, anxiety);
  • Smarter sleep and recovery monitoring, especially for games played at night;
  • Avoiding unnecessary dietary restrictions, especially close to competitions;
  • Personalized pre-game tapering and psychological routines (breathing, visualization, routines);
  • Supporting female athletes through cycle-aware programming and energy balance monitoring.

 

 

Conclusion

Hormonal responses in the pre-competition phase are shaped by a complex interplay of psychological, physiological, and contextual factors. In team sports like basketball, where managing arousal, focus, and readiness is crucial, understanding these dynamics offers a competitive edge.

The takeaway is clear: a modern approach to physical preparation requires not only physical and technical expertise, but also a physiological and psychological literacy that helps build smarter, more adaptive performance environments.

 

 

 

Key References

  1. van Paridon KN, Timmis MA, Nevison CM, Bristow M. The anticipatory stress response to sport competition; a systematic review with meta-analysis of cortisol reactivity. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2017 Sep 17;3(1):e000261. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000261. PMID: 29177073; PMCID: PMC5604718.
  2. Arruda AF, Aoki MS, Freitas CG, Drago G, Oliveira R, Crewther BT, Moreira A. Influence of competition playing venue on the hormonal responses, state anxiety and perception of effort in elite basketball athletes. Physiol Behav. 2014 May 10;130:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.03.007. Epub 2014 Mar 15. PMID: 24642001.
  3. Arruda AFS, Aoki MS, Paludo AC, Moreira A. Salivary steroid response and competitive anxiety in elite basketball players: Effect of opponent level. Physiol Behav. 2017 Aug 1;177:291-296. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.05.017. Epub 2017 May 17. PMID: 28527679.
  4. Gonzalez-Bono E, Salvador A, Serrano MA, Ricarte J. Testosterone, cortisol, and mood in a sports team competition. Horm Behav. 1999 Feb;35(1):55-62. doi: 10.1006/hbeh.1998.1496. PMID: 10049603.
  5. O’Donnell S, Bird S, Jacobson G, Driller M. Sleep and stress hormone responses to training and competition in elite female athletes. Eur J Sport Sci. 2018 Jun;18(5):611-618. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2018.1439535. Epub 2018 Feb 26. PMID: 29482452.
  6. Suela Xhufi, Dhurata Bozo. (2025). Impact of Low Energy Availability on Hormonal Profiles and Athletic Performance. European Science Review 2025, No 5–6. https://doi. org/10.29013/ESR-25-5.6-10-17
  7. Nobari H, Azarian S, Saedmocheshi S, Valdés-Badilla P, García Calvo T. Narrative review: The role of circadian rhythm on sports performance, hormonal regulation, immune system function, and injury prevention in athletes. Heliyon. 2023 Sep 1;9(9):e19636. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19636. PMID: 37809566; PMCID: PMC10558889.
  8. Slimani M, Paravlic AH, Chaabene H, Davis P, Chamari K, Cheour F. Hormonal responses to striking combat sports competition: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Sport. 2018 Jun;35(2):121-136. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2018.71601. Epub 2017 Nov 23. PMID: 30455540; PMCID: PMC6234310.

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