Sodium bicarbonate supplementation does not improve elite women's team sport running or field hockey skill performance

Team sports, such as field hockey, incorporate high‐intensity repeated sprints, interspersed with low‐intensity running, which can result in acidosis. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of acute sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation on team sport running and skill performance. Eight elite female field hockey players (age 23 ± 5 years, body mass 62.6 ± 8.4 kg, height 1.66 ± 0.05 m) completed three Field Hockey Skill Tests (FHST) interspersed with four sets of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST). Prior to exercise, participants were supplemented with capsules equivalent to 0.2 g·kg(−1) body mass (BM) of a placebo (maltodextrin) or 0.3 g·kg(−1) BM SB. Field hockey skill performance incorporated overall performance time (PFT), movement time (MT), decision‐making time (DMT), and penalty time (PT). Sprint time (ST), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate concentration, bicarbonate anion ([Formula: see text]) concentration, pH, and base excess were measured at various time points. Data (mean ± SD) were analyzed using a two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, with Hedges g effect sizes used to interpret the magnitude of differences. Bicarbonate anion concentration (+5.4 ± 2.6 mmol·L(−1)) and pH (+0.06 ± 0.03) were greater during the bicarbonate trial compared with the placebo (P < 0.001). Bicarbonate did not alter PFT (placebo: 87.9 ± 6.9 sec; bicarbonate: 89.0 ± 7.8 sec, P = 0.544, g = 0.14), MT, DMT, PT (all P > 0.30) or ST (placebo: 2.87 ± 0.12 sec; bicarbonate: 2.86 ± 0.12 sec, P = 0.893, g = −0.08). RPE was lower during the SB condition (placebo: 13 ± 2; bicarbonate: 12 ± 2, P = 0.021, g = −0.41). Acute ingestion of bicarbonate did not improve sprint or sport‐specific skill performance. Bicarbonate ingestion did result in a lower perception of effort during team‐sport running, which may have performance implications in a competitive match situation.