Maximal Strength, Sprint, and Jump Performance in High-Level Female Football Players Are Maintained With a Customized Training Program During the COVID-19 Lockdown.

Sigurd Pedersen,Andrea Casolo,Andreas Kjæreng Winther,Boye Welde,Dag Johansen,Svein Arne Pettersen,Edvard H Sagelv,Morten B Randers

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.623885

Abstract

IntroductionThe COVID-19 outbreak with partial lockdown has inevitably led to an alteration in training routines for football players worldwide. Thus, coaches had to face with the novel challenge of minimizing the potential decline in fitness during this period of training disruption.MethodsIn this observational pre- to posttest study involving Norwegian female football players (18.8 ± 1.9 years, height 1.68 ± 0.4 m, mass 61.3 ± 3.7 kg), we investigated the effects of a prescribed home-based and group-based intervention, implemented during the COVID-19 lockdown, on maximal muscular force production and high velocity variables. Specifically, maximal partial squat strength one repetition maximum (1RM), counter movement jump (CMJ) and 15 m sprint time were assessed 1 week prior to the lockdown and 12 weeks after the onset of lockdown. We also collected training content and volume from the prescribed training program and self-reported perceived training quality and motivation toward training.ResultsWe observed no change in 1RM [pretest: 104 ± 12 kg, posttest: 101 ± 11 kg (P = 0.28)], CMJ height [pretest: 28.1 ± 2.3 cm, posttest: 26.8 ± 1.9 (P = 0.09)], and 15 m sprint time [pretest: 2.60 ± 0.08 s, posttest: 2.61 ± 0.07 s (P = 0.52)].ConclusionOur findings suggest that a prescribed home-based and group-based intervention with increased training time devoted to strength, jump, and sprint ability, and regulated to obtain a sufficient infection control level is feasible and effective to preserve strength, jumping, and sprinting abilities of high-level female football players during a ∼ 3-month period of a pandemic-induced lockdown.

Highlights

The COVID-19 outbreak with partial lockdown has inevitably led to an alteration in training routines for football players worldwide
Six of the players reported to have some experience with strength training using the squat exercise, while the three remaining players reported to have a lot of experience
No significant changes were observed for absolute- and relative 1RM partial squat strength (P > 0.05), counter movement jump (CMJ) jump height (P > 0.05), force production variables in the CMJ test, or in 15 m sprint times (P > 0.05, in all cases) from pre- to posttest

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 outbreak with partial lockdown has inevitably led to an alteration in training routines for football players worldwide. In Norway, these regulations were imposed for all sports and were introduced during football teams’ pre-season preparations. This led to a rapid shift in training plans and training practice with for example, some teams prescribing home-based training for their players (Sarto et al, 2020). Football fitness includes both aerobic and anaerobic-capacity, and explosive muscle actions (Bangsbo et al, 2006). Mimicking the movement patterns in football during training was challenged during the lockdown period, which may have led to declines in football-specific physical fitness (Mohr et al, 2020)

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