Key result
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown did not significantly alter physical performance in the German Bundesliga, but significantly reduced total distance (p<0.001) and high-intensity running (p=0.03) in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
Why the study?
It was unknown whether the in-season COVID-19 pandemic lockdown influenced physical match performance in professional soccer players in the German Bundesliga and Polish Ekstraklasa.
Does the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown influence physical match performance in professional soccer players?
Observational
Yes
Does the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown influence physical match performance in professional soccer players?
p-value: p=<0.001
The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on professional soccer players' physical performance varied by league, likely due to different break lengths and restrictions.
League-specific performance drops post-lockdown highlight contextual factors; leaves open targeted training research during disruptions.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the in-season pandemic lockdown influenced physical match performance in professional soccer players who participated in the competition of German Bundesliga and Polish Ekstraklasa. The data from 306 games for German Bundesliga and 296 games for Polish Ekstraklasa were divided into before- and after-lockdown periods. The physical performance of German Bundesliga teams after the 63-day COVID-19 lockdown did not differ significantly from that in the first part of the season. In contrast, Polish Ekstraklasa teams, after the 81-day lockdown, displayed significantly shorter total distances (p < 0.001), shorter high-intensity running distances (p = 0.03), and fewer high-intensity actions (p = 0.02). Moreover, when the effective playing time was considered, teams covered significantly less relative total distance (p < 0.001) and relative high-intensity running distance (p = 0.02). The results of the current study suggest that physical performance during the matches of the German Bundesliga was not influenced by the COVID-19 lockdown, contrary to those of the Polish Ekstraklasa. This difference could have been caused by different break lengths and different restrictions implemented in these countries during the pandemic lockdown.
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Radzimiński et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Professional soccer players. COVID-19 pandemic lockdown vs. Before-lockdown period was evaluated on Physical match performance (total distance, high-intensity running distance, high-intensity actions) (p=<0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown did not significantly alter physical performance in the German Bundesliga, but significantly reduced total distance (p<0.001) and high-intensity running (p=0.03) in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
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