Coronavirus Disease-19 Quarantine Is More Detrimental Than Traditional Off-Season on Physical Conditioning of Professional Soccer Players

Abstract

Grazioli, R, Loturco, I, Baroni, BM, Oliveira, GS, Saciura, V, Vanoni, E, Dias, R, Veeck, F, Pinto, RS, and Cadore, EL. Coronavirus disease-19 quarantine is more detrimental than traditional off-season on physical conditioning of professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3316–3320, 2020—Beyond the severe health crisis, the coronavirus disease 2019 has also affected the high-performance sports scenario. In soccer, practitioners are concerned about the effects of long-term detraining on players' conditioning, and caution is required when activities return. This study assessed body composition, jump and sprint performance, hamstring eccentric strength, and intermittent cardiorespiratory fitness of 23 male professional soccer players who returned to training activities after 63 days of quarantine. The results were compared with their physical condition assessed before a pre-season phase as soon as they returned to training after a regular 24-day off-season period. In comparison with after off-season assessments, the quarantine induced significant increases in body mass, body fat mass, 10- and 20-m sprint times as well as decreases in countermovement jump height (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in hamstring eccentric strength, squat jump height, and cardiorespiratory fitness (p > 0.05). In summary, we showed that 63 days of quarantine impaired several physical performance measures compared with regular off-season in soccer players. Given the present results, special attention should be given to body composition–related and speed power–related capabilities after long-term detraining in professional soccer.

Health and Well-Being of Athletes During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Scoping Review

“…In Brazilian soccer players, over normal off-season, 63 days of quarantine affected several physical performance tests (22).…”

An analysis of Bundesliga matches before and after social distancing by COVID-19

“…As expected with team practice limited by COVID-19, in which the lack of training with matchintensity and timing in the football specific actions may have influenced these game variables. Another study showed that this quarantine was more detrimental to football players' physical conditioning than off-season, which may affect the performance variables during the games (Grazioli et al 2020). An interesting result was the higher passes accuracy after SD than before.…”

“…In football, the 2019/2020 season for almost all leagues was initially postponed indefinitely, or cancelled, due to COVID-19 pandemic, until league decision for a safety comeback. Discussion about the effects of prolonged quarantine on football players' performance has been a critical point debated in the literature (Grazioli et al 2020). During the quarantine period, studies have suggested general home training for football (Azevedo et al 2020) or guidelines for return to fitness training, physical preparation and recovery during these conditions (Mohr et al 2020).…”

“…However, the home training has been performed mostly in individual way, which may preclude to reach match intensity and timing in specific actions for a multifaceted team sports as football (Mohr et al 2020). Some studies have verified impairments in the physical and game variables comparing the period before and after COVID-19 break (Grazioli et al 2020;Tilp and Thaller 2020;McCarrick et al In Press).…”

“…Several factors may influence game variables and outcomes, such as player injuries, recovery time between matches, training period and even the influence of supporters (Lago-Peñas et al 2011;Grazioli et al 2020). In this context, after the long break, to avoid the uncontrolled spread of the disease among players and fans, football matches came back with empty stadiums, which may influence the team's behavior during the game, as well as home advantage.…”