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The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Physical Performance of Professional Soccer Players: An Example of German and Polish Leagues

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  • Łukasz Radzimiński

    (Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland)

  • Alexis Padrón-Cabo

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain)

  • Marek Konefał

    (Department of Biological and Motor Sport Bases, University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Paweł Chmura

    (Department of Team Games, University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Andrzej Szwarc

    (Department of Team Sports, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland)

  • Zbigniew Jastrzębski

    (Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the in-season pandemic lockdown influenced physical match performance in professional soccer players who participated in the competition of German Bundesliga and Polish Ekstraklasa. The data from 306 games for German Bundesliga and 296 games for Polish Ekstraklasa were divided into before- and after-lockdown periods. The physical performance of German Bundesliga teams after the 63-day COVID-19 lockdown did not differ significantly from that in the first part of the season. In contrast, Polish Ekstraklasa teams, after the 81-day lockdown, displayed significantly shorter total distances ( p < 0.001), shorter high-intensity running distances ( p = 0.03), and fewer high-intensity actions ( p = 0.02). Moreover, when the effective playing time was considered, teams covered significantly less relative total distance ( p < 0.001) and relative high-intensity running distance ( p = 0.02). The results of the current study suggest that physical performance during the matches of the German Bundesliga was not influenced by the COVID-19 lockdown, contrary to those of the Polish Ekstraklasa. This difference could have been caused by different break lengths and different restrictions implemented in these countries during the pandemic lockdown.

Suggested Citation

  • Łukasz Radzimiński & Alexis Padrón-Cabo & Marek Konefał & Paweł Chmura & Andrzej Szwarc & Zbigniew Jastrzębski, 2021. "The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Physical Performance of Professional Soccer Players: An Example of German and Polish Leagues," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8796-:d:618655
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abraham García-Aliaga & Moisés Marquina & Antonio Cordón-Carmona & Manuel Sillero-Quintana & Alfonso de la Rubia & Silvestre Jos Vielcazat & Fabio Nevado Garrosa & Ignacio Refoyo Román, 2021. "Comparative Analysis of Soccer Performance Intensity of the Pre–Post-Lockdown COVID-19 in LaLiga™," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Buldú, Javier M. & Antequera, Daniel R. & Aguirre, Jacobo, 2020. "The resumption of sports competitions after COVID-19 lockdown: The case of the Spanish football league," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    3. Hannes Lepschy & Hagen Wäsche & Alexander Woll, 2018. "How to be Successful in Football: A Systematic Review," The Open Sports Sciences Journal, Bentham Open, vol. 11(1), pages 3-23, June.
    4. Marcin Andrzejewski & Marek Konefał & Paweł Chmura & Edward Kowalczuk & Jan Chmura, 2016. "Match outcome and distances covered at various speeds in match play by elite German soccer players," International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 817-828, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anamarija Jurcev Savicevic & Jasna Nincevic & Sime Versic & Sarah Cuschieri & Ante Bandalovic & Ante Turic & Boris Becir & Toni Modric & Damir Sekulic, 2021. "Performance of Professional Soccer Players before and after COVID-19 Infection; Observational Study with an Emphasis on Graduated Return to Play," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Sümer Alvurdu & Cihan Baykal & Zeki Akyildiz & Ömer Şenel & Ana Filipa Silva & Daniele Conte & Filipe Manuel Clemente, 2022. "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," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Damir Sekulic & Sime Versic & Andrew Decelis & Jose Castro-Piñero & Dejan Javorac & Goran Dimitric & Kemal Idrizovic & Igor Jukic & Toni Modric, 2021. "The Effect of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Position-Specific Match Running Performance of Professional Football Players; Preliminary Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-9, November.

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