Abstract

COVID-19 caused a total halt in sport competition during 2020. The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes between pre- and post-lockdown competitive periods in the players’ workload variables in competition. Seventeen professional football players were monitored using a WIMU PRO^® inertial device throughout the 2019-20 season. Anthropometric and physical fitness were assessed with the aim to relate possible associations between these characteristics and the workload changes in the pre- and post-lockdown periods. During the lockdown, players carried out an 8-week guided self-training. There was a general decrement in the players’ physical workload demands in competition, and the parameters related to high-intensity actions as accelerations and decelerations (-8.96% [ES: 0.64] and -11.04% [ES: 0.77] respectively; p < .05), Ind HSR (-35.57% [ES: 0.92]; p = .002), HMLD (-8.58% [ES: 0.66]; p = .016), PLOAD (-7.03% [ES: 0.54]; p = .047) and V_max (-3.80% [ES: 0.65]; p = .016) can be highlighted. The results showed high negative correlations between match workload variables prior to the lockdown and the percentage of change in these variables after the lockdown period. Individual percentages of change showed high variability in players’ changes. Individual self-training programs should be reviewed to minimize the impact of a “detraining” period in players’ physical performance during possible new lockdown periods.

Resumen

El COVID-19 causó un parón total en las competiciones deportivas durante 2020. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los cambios en las variables de carga de trabajo en competición entre los periodos competitivos pre- y post-confinamiento. Diecisiete jugadores de fútbol profesional fueron monitorizados usando el dispositivo inercial WIMU PRO^® durante la temporada 2019-20. Se registraron los valores antropométricos y de rendimiento físico con el objetivo de buscar posibles asociaciones entre esas características y cambios en las variables de carga de trabajo en los periodos pre- y post-confinamiento. Durante el confinamiento, los jugadores realizaron un auto-entrenamiento guiado de 8-semanas. Se encontró un descenso generalizado en la carga de trabajo de los jugadores en competición y en los parámetros relacionados con las acciones a alta intensidad como aceleraciones y deceleraciones (-8.96% [ES: 0.64] y -11.04% [ES: 0.77] respectivamente; p < .05), HSR Ind (-35.57% [ES: 0.92]; p = .002), HMLD (-8.58% [ES: 0.66]; p = .016), PLOAD (-7.03% [ES: 0.54]; p = .047) y V_max (-3.80% [ES: 0.65]; p = .016). Los resultados mostraron altas correlaciones negativas entre porcentajes alcanzados por las variables según la carga de trabajo en partidos antes-después del confinamiento. Los porcentajes de cambio individual mostraron una alta variabilidad entre jugadores. Los programas de auto-entrenamiento realizados individualmente durante el confinamiento deberían ser revisados para minimizar el impacto de un periodo de desentrenamiento en el rendimiento físico de los jugadores durante un posible nuevo periodo de confinamiento.

https://doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2022.06703

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