The Impact of Covid-19 and the Effect of Psychological Factors on Training Conditions of Handball Players

Abstract

The spread of COVID-19 has altered sport in Spain, forcing athletes to train at home. The objectives of the study were: (i) to compare training and recovery conditions before and during the isolation period in handball players according to gender and competitive level, and (ii) to analyse the impact of psychological factors during the isolation period. A total of 187 participants (66 women and 121 men) answered a Google Forms questionnaire about demographics, training, moods, emotional intelligence, and resilience sent using the snowball sampling technique. T-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare sport level and gender differences. Linear regressions were used to analyse the psychological influence on training. Handball players reduced training intensity (in the whole sample; p = 0.44), training volume (especially in professional female handball players; p < 0.001), and sleep quality (especially in professional male handball players; p = 0.21) and increased sleep hours (especially in non-professional female players; p = 0.006) during the isolation period. Furthermore, psychological factors affected all evaluated training and recovery conditions during the quarantine, except for sleep quantity. Mood, emotional intelligence, and resilience have an influence on physical activity levels and recovery conditions. In addition, training components were modified under isolation conditions at p < 0.001. We conclude that the COVID-19 isolation period caused reductions in training volume and intensity and decreased sleep quality. Furthermore, psychological components have a significant impact on training and recovery conditions.

Athlete's Perceptions of a “Quarantine” Training Camp During the COVID-19 Lockdown

“…Sleep quantity during lockdown (>8 h) was higher than during “quarantine” camp (<8 h), although both remain within the recommended duration for athletes (i.e., 7–9 h) (Watson, 2017 ). Similarly, increased sleep quantity during lockdown (from 7.2 to 8.0 h) was also observed among handball players, ascribed by mobility restrictions (Mon-López et al, 2020 ). Nevertheless, the sleep quantity during the “quarantine” camp appears consistent with current literature reporting elite athletes achieving <8 h of sleep per night (Lastella et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Many athletes have been unable to perform sport-specific training, due to movement restrictions (Bok et al, 2020 ). Consequently, athletes have resorted to training at home, often without supervision or specialist equipment (Mon-López et al, 2020 ). Despite this emerging evidence demonstrating beneficial effects of home-training, the overall effectiveness of home-training for maintaining optimal levels of sport-specific conditioning remains unclear.…”

Amateur and Recreational Athletes’ Motivation to Exercise, Stress, and Coping During the Corona Crisis

“…Specifically, interrupted training routines, financial problems (e.g., Andreato et al, 2020 ), social isolation, and distancing have increased ( Schinke et al, 2020 ). These developments may also include lack of communication among athletes and coaches (e.g., Jukic et al, 2020 ), reduced training quality and quantity in elite sportswomen ( Bowes et al, 2020 ) and handball players ( Mon-López et al, 2020 ) and the general population ( Maugeri et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, adverse behaviors such as drinking and smoking as well as eating and sleeping problems (e.g., Andreato et al, 2020 ; Maher et al, 2020 ), or increased gambling problems also in athletes ( Håkansson et al, 2020 ) are evident.…”

The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown on Athletes’ Subjective Vitality: The Protective Role of Resilience and Autonomous Goal Motives

“…In these circumstances, athletes have encountered issues not only related to their options to compete and maintain their usual training routines but also challenges presented by social isolation and need to distance from partners and teammates ( Schinke et al, 2020 ). This has resulted in a decrease in athletes’ training intensity and training volume and other consequences such as a reduction of sleep quality ( Mon-López et al, 2020 ) and changes in their dietary patterns ( Roberts et al, 2020 ). Athletes have also reported COVID-19-related psychological distress and worries about one’s sport and about one’s own future in sport ( Håkansson et al, 2020 ).…”

“…In this research, athletes’ goal motives (autonomous and controlled) as possible mechanisms by which resilience can predict changes in subjective vitality during the COVID-19 pandemic was examined. A number of recent studies, conducted across different populations and countries, have described the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on athletes (e.g., Håkansson et al, 2020 ; Mon-López et al, 2020 ; Pillay et al, 2020 ; Roberts et al, 2020 ). However, to our knowledge, there has been no research about the role of resilience and goal motives on changes in athlete’s subjective vitality during lockdown.…”