Key result
The COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent resumption of LaLiga did not significantly affect the total running distance per match compared to the previous season, with high-intensity running performance maintained.
Why the study?
To determine how the COVID-19 lockdown, retraining period, congested calendar, and altered in-game regulations affected the physical performance and running patterns of professional soccer players.
Observational (n=743)
Yes
p-value: p=0.288
High-intensity running performance of professional soccer teams was maintained after the resumption of competition following the COVID-19 lockdown, likely aided by altered in-game regulations such as increased substitutions and refreshment pauses.
Indicates maintained performance post-lockdown in elite soccer; leaves open long-term cardiac monitoring needs in athletes.
In the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak (spring 2020), the first division of professional soccer in Spain ( LaLiga ) was suspended for 12 weeks as part of the lockdown imposed by the Spanish health authorities. Professional soccer players were confined to home for 8 weeks and then a retraining period of 4 weeks was set before the first competitive match. When competition was resumed, professional soccer teams competed in a congested calendar (11 matchdays in 39 days) while some in-game regulations were altered (up to 5 substitutions, refreshment pauses). The current research presents an analysis of running patterns before suspension and after resumption of LaLiga to determine how the lockdown affected players’ physical performance. To aid in this purpose, a pairwise comparison was performed of running patterns of the 2019–2020 vs. 2018–2019 season (i.e., control season). Using a two-way ANOVA (season x matchday), it was found that there was no main effect of the season on total running distance per match ( P = 0.288) nor in the distances covered < 14.0 km/h ( P = 0.294), at 21.0–23.9 km/h ( P = 0.266), and at ≥ 24.0 km/h ( P = 0.112). Only the distance at 14.0–20.9 km/h was affected by the season ( P = 0.019) with a lower running distance on matchday 34 in the 2019–2020 vs. 2018–2019 season. The number of substitutions (from 2.9 to 4.5 substitutions per game; P < 0.001) and match duration (96 vs. 100 min; P < 0.001) significantly increased after resumption respect to the previous season. These data suggest that high-intensity running performance of professional soccer teams was maintained after the resumption of the competition while the alterations likely aided in the in-game regulations facilitated the maintenance of soccer physical performance.
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Souza et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Professional soccer players (n=743). COVID-19 lockdown and altered in-game regulations vs. 2018-2019 season (control season) was evaluated on Total running distance per match (p=0.288). The COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent resumption of LaLiga did not significantly affect the total running distance per match compared to the previous season, with high-intensity running performance maintained.
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