Authors: Mr Vaibhav Daipuria
Abstract: The present study investigated the effect of circadian rhythm on speed and strength among adult cricket players of Chambal Division. A total of 20 male district-level players aged 18 ± 3 years were selected through purposive sampling. Speed was measured using a 50-meter sprint test and strength using a handgrip dynamometer at three different times of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening. The results showed that speed performance improved from morning (M = 7.25, SD = 0.30) to evening (M = 6.90, SD = 0.25), while strength increased from morning (M = 42.5, SD = 4.2) to evening (M = 46.8, SD = 4.0). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant effect of time of day on speed, F(2, 38) = 15.62, p < .001, and strength, F(2, 38) = 18.45, p < .001. Multivariate analysis using Wilks’ Lambda also indicated significant differences. The study concludes that circadian rhythm significantly influences performance, with peak speed and strength observed in the evening, suggesting that training schedules should align with optimal biological timing for enhanced performance.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19369219
