The Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Mood and Performance of Male Adolescent Archers

Abstract

Background. Muslim archers need to fast during Ramadan, starting from sunrise to sunset, adhering to their religious calling while still needing to continue their training or competition. This situation is very challenging as archery is a sport that requires high concentration and focuses. The available evidence indicates that physical and non-physical aspects of sporting performance were impacted in a small magnitude by fasting. Thus, understanding the impact fasting has specifically on archers’ moods, and performance is crucial. Objectives. This study compares archers' shooting performance and mood during fasting and non-fasting periods. Methods. Participants were male adolescent archers from the Terengganu State Sports Council and Malaysia Pahang Sports School (n=13; Mean age: 16.0±1.53 years). Participants were recruited through the purposive sampling method. This study was conducted a month before and during the Ramadan fasting month. The mood was evaluated using the 24-item Brunel Mood Scale Questionnaire before the scoring session. The total score of 36 arrows assessed the archery shooting performance. Results. The Mann-Whitney test showed that shooting performance and mood did not show any significant difference except for the tension which showed a significant difference (p<0.05). Conclusion. The results showed that fasting did not affect the shooting performance and mood of the archers. Moreover, fasting helps in reducing the tension of the archers