Impact of Prolonged Absence of Organized Training on Body Composition, Neuromuscular Performance, and Aerobic Capacity: A Study in Youth Male Soccer Players Exposed to COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine how physical performance has changed after 15 weeks (109 days) long-term absence of organized training in youth soccer players imposed by the stay at home orders. A total of sixty-eight young male soccer players from different age categories (U15, U16, U17 and U19) voluntarily participated in the prospective cohort study. Body fat percentage (BF%), counter-movement jump (CMJ), 30 m sprint, change-of-direction (COD) and yo-yo intermittent recovery test level-1 (YYIRTL-1) were evaluated twice (before and after the detraining period). Subsequently, 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate group and time differences in repeated measurements. A significance level of p < 0.05 was implemented. CV and SWC values were calculated to test the reliability of the tests performed at different times. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS statistics software (v.25, IBM, New York, NY, USA). Significant increments in BF%, 30 m sprint, and COD (left and right), and also significant decrements in CMJ and YYIRTL-1, were found after the detraining period. A long-term detraining period due to the stay at home orders has a detrimental effect on body composition, neuromuscular performances, and aerobic capacity in youth soccer players.

Analysis of the Sustainability of Long-Term Detraining Caused by COVID-19 Lockdown: Impact on the Maximal Aerobic Speed of Under-16 Soccer Players

“…The information about detraining effects is now important because COVID-19 brought challenges regarding prolonged inactivity or low activity caused by a governmental lockdown [8]. In fact, the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic during the last two years made the entire training process in football very difficult, as the imposed restrictions and lockdowns resulted in long-term detraining effects [9]. To better understand the effects that COVID-19 lockdown has on a player's physical fitness, only a few studies have been published [9][10][11][12].…”

“…In fact, the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic during the last two years made the entire training process in football very difficult, as the imposed restrictions and lockdowns resulted in long-term detraining effects [9]. To better understand the effects that COVID-19 lockdown has on a player's physical fitness, only a few studies have been published [9][10][11][12]. However, from the available research on this topic, only two studies were conducted on youth soccer players [9,11].…”

Effect of the COVID-19 Confinement Period on Selected Neuromuscular Performance Indicators in Young Male Soccer Players: Can the Maturation Process Counter the Negative Effect of Detraining?

“…Regarding the linear sprint performance, 10 m and 20 m sprint times were significantly improved by 7.85% and 3.73%, respectively, after the confinement period. These findings are in contrast to the results of similar studies that also investigated the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on sprint performance in soccer [21,23,24] and futsal [35]. More specifically, Alvurdu et al [21] reported significant decrements in 30 m sprint performance after 109 days of training cessation, whereas, similarly, Grazioli et al [23] showed that 63 days of home confinement led to a reduced 10 m and 20 m sprint performance in professional soccer players.…”

“…These findings are in contrast to the results of similar studies that also investigated the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on sprint performance in soccer [21,23,24] and futsal [35]. More specifically, Alvurdu et al [21] reported significant decrements in 30 m sprint performance after 109 days of training cessation, whereas, similarly, Grazioli et al [23] showed that 63 days of home confinement led to a reduced 10 m and 20 m sprint performance in professional soccer players. In the study by Spyrou et al [35] the same results were observed in elite futsal players, as 70 days of reduced training impaired 10 m sprint performance.…”

“…Indeed, interruption of training can lead to partial or complete loss of training-induced adaptations in response to an inadequate training stimulus [20]. More specifically, during the COVID-19 era, several studies have shown that soccer players experienced reduced physical performance after the confinement period [19,[21][22][23][24].…”