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 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.