scholarly journals Running Patterns in LaLiga Before and After Suspension of the Competition Due to COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Brito de Souza ◽  
Roberto López-Del Campo ◽  
Ricardo Resta ◽  
Victor Moreno-Perez ◽  
Juan Del Coso
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Previous Season ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Soccer Teams ◽  
Spanish Health

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.

scholarly journals The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Physical Performance of Professional Soccer Players: An Example of German and Polish Leagues

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8796
Author(s):  
Łukasz Radzimiński ◽  
Alexis Padrón-Cabo ◽  
Marek Konefał ◽  
Paweł Chmura ◽  
Andrzej Szwarc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Total Distance ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Playing Time ◽  
Physical Match

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.

How does the workload applied during the training week and the contextual factors affect the physical responses of professional soccer players in the match?

2021 ◽  
pp. 174795412199561
Author(s):  
Berni Guerrero-Calderón ◽  
Maximilian Klemp ◽  
José Alfonso Morcillo ◽  
Daniel Memmert
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Models ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Soccer Teams ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
Physical Output ◽  
Physical Responses ◽  
Positive Effect

The aim of this study was to examine whether match physical output can be predicted from the workload applied in training by professional soccer players. Training and match load records from two professional soccer teams belonging to the Spanish First and Second Division were collected through GPS technology over a season ( N = 1678 and N = 2441 records, respectively). The factors playing position, season period, quality of opposition, category and playing formation were considered into the analysis. The level of significance was set at p ≤ .05. The prediction models yielded a conditional R-squared in match of 0.51 in total distance (TD); 0.58 in high-intensity distance (HIRD, from 14 to 24 km · h−1); and 0.60 in sprint distance (SPD, >24 km·h−1). The main finding of this study was that the physical output of players in the match was predicted from the training-load performed during the previous training week. The training-TD negatively affected the match physical output while the training-HIRD showed a positive effect. Moreover, the contextual factors – playing position, season period, division and quality of opposition – affected the players’ physical output in the match. Therefore, these results suggest the appropriateness of programming lower training volume but increasing the intensity of the activity throughout the weekly microcycle, and considering contextual factors within the load programming.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Serie A Soccer Players’ Physical Qualities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermanno Rampinini ◽  
Federico Donghi ◽  
Marco Martin ◽  
Andrea Bosio ◽  
Marco Riggio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Peak Power ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Different Seasons

AbstractIn March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced most activities in Italy, including soccer, to cease. During lockdown, players could only train at home, with limited evidence regarding the effect of this period. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on professional soccer players’ physical performance. Aerobic fitness and vertical jump were assessed before and after four periods in two different seasons: COVID-19 lockdown, competitive period before lockdown, competitive period and summer break of the 2016–2017 season. Linear mixed models were used to examine within-period changes and between-period differences in changes observed during COVID-19 lockdown and the three other periods. Within-period changes in aerobic fitness showed a significant improvement following COVID-19 lockdown (p<0.001) and a significant decline during summer break (p<0.001). Between-period differences were significant in the comparison of COVID-19 lockdown with both the competitive 2019–2020 season (p<0.01) and summer break (p<0.001). For the vertical jump, only the between-period comparison revealed significant differences as the changes associated with COVID-19 lockdown were worse than those of the two competitive periods, for both absolute (p<0.05; p<0.001) and relative peak power (p<0.01; p<0.001). Home-based training during lockdown was effective to improve aerobic fitness, although it did not allow players to maintain their competitive period’s power levels.

scholarly journals Effects of Short-Term Plyometric Training on Agility, Jump and Repeated Sprint Performance in Female Soccer Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2274
Author(s):  
Marcin Maciejczyk ◽  
Renata Błyszczuk ◽  
Aleksander Drwal ◽  
Beata Nowak ◽  
Marek Strzała
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Sprint Performance ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Plyometric Training ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Jump Performance ◽  
Squat Jump ◽  
Repeated Sprint ◽  
Before And After

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of short-term (4 weeks, twice a week: 8 sessions) plyometric training on agility, jump, and repeated sprint performance in female soccer players. The study comprised 17 females performing this sports discipline. The players were randomly divided into two groups: with plyometric training (PLY) and the control (CON). All players followed the same training program, but the PLY group also performed plyometric exercises. Tests used to evaluate physical performance were carried out immediately before and after PLY. After implementing the short PLY training, significant improvement in jump performance (squat jump: p = 0.04, ES = 0.48, countermovement jump: p = 0.009, ES = 0.42) and agility (p = 0.003, ES = 0.7) was noted in the PLY group. In the CON group, no significant (p > 0.05) changes in physical performance were observed. In contrast, PLY did not improve repeated sprint performance (p > 0.05) among female soccer players. In our research, it was shown that PLY can also be effective when performed for only 4 weeks instead of the 6–12 weeks typically applied.

scholarly journals Composición corporal y rendimiento físico de jugadores de fútbol soccer universitario por posición de juego (Body composition and physical performance of college soccer by player´s position)

Retos ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 52-57
Author(s):  
Oswaldo Ceballos-Gurrola ◽  
Fernando Bernal-Reyes ◽  
Marquelia Jardón-Rosas ◽  
María Cristina Enríquez-Reyna ◽  
Jesús Durazo- Quiroz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Hip Circumference ◽  
Soccer Teams ◽  
Physical Abilities ◽  
The Relationship

Se propuso determinar la relación que existe entre la composición corporal y el rendimiento físico de jugadores de fútbol soccer universitario. Participaron 26 jugadores de sexo masculino con edad promedio de 20.7 años (DT = 1.7), pertenecientes a los equipos representativos de fútbol soccer de dos universidades mexicanas. Se midieron características morfológicas, de composición corporal y físicas para las posiciones de defensa, mediocampo y delantero. Se determinó el nivel de asociación entre las variables. Los resultados muestran que los defensas presentan mayor masa corporal, diámetro de húmero y circunferencia de cadera que los delanteros (p < .05), no así respecto a los jugadores de mediocampo. No se presenta diferencia en la expresión de las capacidades físicas y del porcentaje de masa grasa de los jugadores por posición de juego (p > .05). La masa grasa se asoció de manera directa con la velocidad (.427*, p < .05). Se encontraron diferencias en la masa ósea y corporal por posición de juego entre defensas, mediocampistas y delanteros. Los hallazgos sugieren la influencia de la composición corporal en el rendimiento físico de los participantes.  Abstract. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between body composition and physical performance in college soccer players. Twenty-six male players with an average age of 20.7 years (SD = 1.7), belonging to the representative soccer teams of two Mexican universities participated in the research. Morphological, body composition, and physical characteristics were measured for the defense, midfield, and forward positions. The level of association between variables was determined. The results show that defenders have greater body mass, humerus diameter, and hip circumference than forwards (p <. 05), whereas no differences were found in comparison to midfielders. There is no difference in players’ expression of physical abilities and percentage of fat mass by playing position (p > .05). Fat mass was directly associated with speed (.427 *, p < .05). Differences were found in bone and body mass by playing position between defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The findings hint at an influence of body composition on participants’ physical performance.

scholarly journals Associations Between Selected Training-Stress Measures and Fitness Changes in Male Soccer Players

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1050-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Rabbani ◽  
Mehdi Kargarfard ◽  
Carlo Castagna ◽  
Filipe Manuel Clemente ◽  
Craig Twist
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Running Performance ◽  
Total Distance ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Body Load ◽  
Training Stress ◽  
Training Impulse

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between accumulated global positioning system–accelerometer-based and heart rate–based training metrics and changes in high-intensity intermittent-running capacity during an in-season phase in professional soccer players. Methods: Eleven male professional players (mean [SD] age 27.2 [4.5] y) performed the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT) before and after a 5-wk in-season training phase, and the final velocity (VIFT) was considered their high-intensity intermittent-running capacity. During all sessions, Edwards training impulse (Edwards TRIMP), Banister TRIMP, Z5 TRIMP, training duration, total distance covered, new body load (NBL), high-intensity running performance (distance covered above 14.4 km·h−1), and very-high-intensity running performance (distance covered above 19.8 km·h−1) were recorded. Results: The players’ VIFT showed a most likely moderate improvement (+4.3%, 90% confidence limits 3.1–5.5%, effect size 0.70, [0.51–0.89]). Accumulated NBL, Banister TRIMP, and Edwards TRIMP showed large associations (r = .51–.54) with changes in VIFT. A very large relationship was also observed between accumulated Z5 TRIMP (r = .72) with changes in VIFT. Large to nearly perfect within-individual relationships were observed between NBL and some of the other training metrics (ie, Edwards TRIMP, Banister TRIMP, training duration, and total distance) in 10 out of 11 players. Conclusions: Heart rate–based training metrics can be used to monitor high-intensity intermittent-running-capacity changes in professional soccer players. The dose–response relationship is also largely detected using accelerometer-based metrics (ie, NBL) to track changes in high-intensity intermittent-running capacity of professional soccer players.

scholarly journals Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis and Rehab and Reconditioning Program for Rectus Femoris Muscle Injuries: A Cohort Study with Professional Soccer Players and a 20-Week Follow-Up

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7912
Author(s):  
Fermín Valera-Garrido ◽  
Sergio Jiménez-Rubio ◽  
Francisco Minaya-Muñoz ◽  
José Luis Estévez-Rodríguez ◽  
Archit Navandar
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasound Image ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Muscle Injuries ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Rectus Femoris Muscle ◽  
Femoris Muscle

Rectus femoris muscle strains are one of the most common injuries occurring in sports such as soccer. The purpose of this study was to describe the safety and feasibility of a combination of percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) and a specific rehab and reconditioning program (RRP) following an injury to the rectus femoris in professional soccer players. Thirteen professional soccer players received PNE treatment 48 h after a grade II rectus femoris muscle injury, followed by a the RRP 24 h later. Assessment of recovery from injury was done by registering the days taken to return to train (RTT), return to play (RTP), and structural and functional progress of the injured muscle was registered through ultrasound imaging and match-GPS parameters. Also, adverse events and reinjuries were recorded in the follow up period of twenty weeks. The RTT registered was 15.62 ± 1.80 days and RTP was 20.15 ± 2.79 days. After fourteen days, the ultrasound image showed optimal repair. Match-GPS parameters were similar before and after injury. There were no relapses nor were any serious adverse effects reported during the 20-week follow-up after the RTP. A combination of PNE and a specific RRP facilitated a faster RTP in previously injured professional soccer players enabling them to sustain performance and avoid reinjuries.

scholarly journals The examination of Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test performance of young soccer players at different playing positions

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-241
Author(s):  
Serdar Bayrakdaroğlu ◽  
Erdal Arı ◽  
Hüseyin Özkamçı ◽  
İbrahim Can
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Position Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Recovery Test ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Maximal Aerobic Speed ◽  
Soccer Teams ◽  
Level 1 ◽  
The One ◽  
One Way Anova

Background and Study Aim. The aerobic fitness in soccer is an important performance component. The aerobic endurance level of players may positively effect performance of critical match activities. The examination of Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIRT) performance of young soccer players at different playing positions was aimed in this study. Material and Methods. The research group was consisted of 75 young soccer players playing at U-21 category of professional soccer teams at different leagues. The soccer players at 5 different playing positions participated in study voluntarily (centerback: n=15, fullback: midfielder: n=15, winger: n=15, forward: n=15). The YYIRT (level 1) was performed for determination aerobic endurance parameters (covered distance during test, maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and maximal aerobic speed (MAS) of players. The one-way ANOVA analysis was used for comparison between playing positions of YYIRT parameters. Results. It was determined that difference between YYIRT parameters of players at different playing positions was non-significant (p>0.05). However, the midfielders covered more distance (2425,33±440,42 m) than forward (2146,67±339,64 m), winger (2137,33±615,18 m), fullback (2056,00±512,43 m) and centerback (1960,00±313,51 m) players. The positional requirements of midfielders may be decisive on covered distance during YYIRT. Conclusions. Consequently, it may be said that the young soccer players at different playing positions had similar YYIRT performance and the playing position effect on YYIRT performance could vary depending on league level and individual features of players.  

scholarly journals Performance of Professional Soccer Players before and after COVID-19 Infection; Observational Study with an Emphasis on Graduated Return to Play

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11688
Author(s):  
Anamarija Jurcev Savicevic ◽  
Jasna Nincevic ◽  
Sime Versic ◽  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Ante Bandalovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Intensity ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Moderate Effect Size ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pcr Test

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in sport has been the subject of numerous studies over the past two years. However, knowledge about the direct impact of COVID-19 infection on the performance of athletes is limited, and the importance of studies on this topic is crucial during the current pandemic era. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the match running performance (MRP) of professional soccer players that occurred as a result of COVID-19 infection after fulfilling all of the prerequisites for a safe return to play (RTP). The participants were 47 professional soccer players from a team which competed in first Croatian division (21.6 years old on average) during the 2020/21 season. The total sample was divided into two subgroups based on the results of a PCR test for COVID-19, where 31 players tested positive (infected) and 16 tested negative. We observed the PCR test results (positive vs. negative PCR), the number of days needed to return to the team, number of days needed to RTP after quarantine and isolation, and MRP (10 variables measured by a global positioning system). The number of days where the infected players were not included in the team ranged from 7 to 51 (Median: 12). Significant pre- to post-COVID differences in MRP for infected players were only found for high-intensity accelerations and high-intensity decelerations (t-test = 2.11 and 2.13, respectively; p < 0.05, moderate effect size differences), with poorer performance in the post-COVID period. Since a decrease of the MRP as a result of COVID-19 infection was only noted in two variables, we can highlight appropriateness of the applied RTP. However, further adaptations and improvements of the RTP are needed with regard to high-intensity activities.

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