Participants commenced their respective immersions approximately 20 min after the end of each of the four matches. Cold-water immersion consisted of five alternating exposures of: 60 s immersion (to the level of the mesosternale, a depth of approximately 45 cm) in a cold bath (10+0.58C) and 60 s seated rest on a chair at room temperature (248C). Participants in the thermoneutral immersion condition followed the same protocol, immersing in a thermoneutral bath (34+0.58C). Portable baths (Portacovery, Canberra, Australia) were used and water temperature was monitored with a portable thermometer and maintained by adding water or ice.
The water was repeatedly agitated to avoid formation of a warmer boundary layer between the water and the player’s body surface.