Physical match performance and injuries in professional soccer before and after the COVID-19 break

Thron, Maximiliane; Härtel, Sascha; Wöll, Alexander; Ruf, Ludwig; Gross, Timo; Altmann, Stefan

doi:10.1080/24733938.2021.1955955

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Physical match performance in German Bundesliga mainly did not change significantly from pre to post COVID-19 break in 3 out of 3 studies, i.e., high-intensity running distance (0.61 ≤ p ≤ 0.70; 0.03 ≤ ES 0.05) and sprinting distance (0.20 ≤ p ≤ 0.82; 0.02 ≤ ES ≤ 0.09) [3,17,18]. In 1 out of 1 study for Polish Ekstraklasa (p ≤ 0.03; − 0.27 ≤ ES ≤ − 0.18), in 1 out of 1 study for Croatian HNL (p ≤ 0.04; − 1.42 ≤ ES ≤ 1.44), in 2 out of 3 studies for Spanish La Liga (p ≤ 0.017; − 0.32 ≤ ES ≤ 5.5), and in 1 out of 1 study for Italian Serie A (p ≤ 0.014; − 1.01 ≤ ES ≤ 0.24), most physical match parameters such as total distance and high-intensity running distance decreased from pre to post [4,17,[19][20][21].…”

Section: Physical Match Performancementioning

confidence: 86%

“…The restart of group training took place after several weeks in small groups whereby the duration of breaks differed between the leagues. For example, German Bundesliga had the shortest interruption of matches with 9 weeks and restarted group training after 3 weeks [3], while Italian Serie A suspended matches for 15 weeks and group training for 8 weeks [4]. Additionally, after resumption of matches, no spectators were allowed into the stadiums and match schedules were congested.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, after resumption of matches, no spectators were allowed into the stadiums and match schedules were congested. Matches per week increased from 0.9-1.0 to 1.5-2.0 from pre to post COVID-19 induced break to end season 2019/2020 "in time" following the COVID-19 break [3,4]. In order to account for the limited soccer-specific preparation time and to avoid physical overload of the individual players during the congested match schedule, the number of possible substitutions per match was elevated from three to five [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding congested match schedules, research unrelated to the COVID-19 situation points out a potential increasing impact on injury occurrence and decreasing effect on physical match performance due to congested match schedules [8][9][10][11]. Numerous studies examined physical match performance and injury numbers before and after the Covid-19 induced break in matches and training in different European professional male soccer leagues [3,4]. However, the topic is currently not systematically reviewed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differences in Physical Match Performance and Injury Occurrence Before and After the COVID-19 Break in Professional European Soccer Leagues: A Systematic Review

Thron

Düking

Härtel³

et al. 2022

Sports Med - Open

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Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, matches and soccer-specific training were suspended for several weeks, matches after resumption were congested, and substitutions per team and game increased from three to five. Objective The aim of this review was to examine possible differences in physical match performance and injuries between before and after the COVID-19 induced break of matches and training in professional male European soccer leagues during the 2019/2020 season. Methods A systematic search identified all scientifically peer-reviewed publications involving elite male soccer players competing in the European leagues which reported physical match performance variables such as total running distance and running distance at different speed zones and/or injury parameters pre- and post-COVID-19 induced break. Results In total, 11 articles were included, which were coming from German Bundesliga, Polish Ekstraklasa, Croatian HNL, Spanish La Liga, and Italian Serie A. In all studies investigating the German Bundesliga, most parameters of physical match performance remained unaffected (0.08 ≤ p ≤ 0.82; − 0.15 ≤ ES 0.15), while studies investigating the Polish Ekstraklasa (p ≤ 0.03; − 0.27 ≤ ES − 0.18), Croatian HNL (p ≤ 0.04; − 1.42 ≤ ES ≤ 1.44), Spanish La Liga (p ≤ 0.017; − 0.32 ≤ ES ≤ 5.5), and Italian Serie A (p ≤ 0.014; − 1.01 ≤ ES 0.24) showed a decrease in most parameters of physical match performance after the COVID-19 break. Injury rates were only investigated by studies targeting the German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A. In the majority of studies (3 out of 4 studies), there occurred no difference in injuries between pre- and post-COVID-19 break (p > 0.05; ES = N/A). Conclusion Results indicate that Bundesliga teams maintained physical match performance during the 9-weeks break in matches and 3-weeks break in group training, whereas a longer match and group training interruption up to 15 weeks and 8 weeks, respectively, in the other leagues appeared to lead to a decreased physical match performance. Regarding injuries, we speculate that the increase in substitutions from 3 to 5 substitutions per game might prevent an increase in injury occurrence during matches. The underlying studies’ results provide hints for possible upcoming unexpected interruptions with respect to optimal physical preparations for the resumption of matches and a congested schedule to maintain physical match performance, or for possible rule changes such as 5 instead of 3 substitutions to avoid physical overload during congested match schedules.

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Section: Physical Match Performancementioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differences in Physical Match Performance and Injury Occurrence Before and After the COVID-19 Break in Professional European Soccer Leagues: A Systematic Review

Thron

Düking

Härtel³

et al. 2022

Sports Med - Open

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“…In this study, official match data from the 2018/2019 season of the German Bundesliga were used, since this was the last season that has not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic ( Thron et al, 2021 ). A total of 267 games were analyzed, as every match with at least one sent-off (39 games) was excluded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Technical Match Performance in Professional Soccer Depend on the Positional Role or the Individuality of the Player?

Forcher

Härtel³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychol.

Self Cite

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The aim of the study was to examine the impact of the positional role and the individuality on the technical match performance in professional soccer players. From official match data of the Bundesliga season 2018/19, technical performance [short (<10 m)/medium (10–30 m)/long (>30 m) passes, dribblings, ball possessions] of all players who played during the season were analyzed (normative data). Five playing positions (center back, full back, central midfielder, wide midfielder and forward) were distinguished. As the contextual factor tactical formation is known to influence match performance, this parameter was controlled for. Further, those players who played at minimum four games in at least two different playing positions were included in the study sample (n = 13). The technical match performance of the players was analyzed in relation to the normative data regarding the extent to which the players either adapted or maintained their performance when changing the playing position. When switching playing positions, positional role could explain 3–6% of the variance in short passes and ball possessions and 27–44% of the variance in dribblings, medium passes, and long passes. Moreover, we observed large interindividual differences in the extent to which a player changed, adapted, or maintained his performance. In detail, five players clearly adapted their technical performance when changing playing positions, while five players maintained their performance. Coaches can use these findings to better understand the technical match performance of single players and further, to estimate the impact of a change in the positional role on the technical performance of the respective player.

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Effects of substitute allowance on match activity characteristics in Japanese professional football across 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons

Ayabe

Sunami

Kumahara

et al. 2022

Journal of Sports Sciences

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Physical match performance and injuries in professional soccer before and after the COVID-19 break

Cited by 10 publications

References 20 publications

Differences in Physical Match Performance and Injury Occurrence Before and After the COVID-19 Break in Professional European Soccer Leagues: A Systematic Review

Differences in Physical Match Performance and Injury Occurrence Before and After the COVID-19 Break in Professional European Soccer Leagues: A Systematic Review

Does Technical Match Performance in Professional Soccer Depend on the Positional Role or the Individuality of the Player?

Effects of substitute allowance on match activity characteristics in Japanese professional football across 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons

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