Pandemic-induced Reductions In Training Volume And Performance In Collegiate Swimmers

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant training disruptions during the 2020-21 season due to lockdowns, quarantines, and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. The effect of pandemic-induced disruptions on swim performance remains unclear. PURPOSE: 1) Determine how pandemic training restrictions affected training volume in a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 2 (NCAA D2) swim team (compared with a non-pandemic year) and 2) Evaluate differences in performance during a pandemic versus a non-pandemic year at the NCAA D2 regional competition. METHODS: Observational, retrospective, data were collected from a single NCAA D2 swim team. Cumulative training volume data (in yards), across a 28-week season, were compared between a pandemic (2020-2021) versus non-pandemic (2019-2020) season. Swimmers were categorized into three groups (Sprinters, Mid-Distance, and Long-Distance) based on training group and volume analyzed via t-tests. Performance times in 25 swimmers who competed in Regional Championships, during both the non-pandemic and pandemic year, were also compared via 1-way ANOVA. Data expressed as means±SD. RESULTS: 26 male and 22 female swimmers commenced the 2020-21 (pandemic) season, with six male (23%) and five females (23%) voluntarily opting out. Three COVID-19 cases were confirmed (2%) by the medical staff with no long-term effects. Significant reductions in total swim volume were verified in Sprinters (32,867 ± 10,135 vs.14,800 ± 7,995yards;p < 0.001), Mid-Distance (26,457 ± 10,692 vs.17,054 ± 9.923yards;p < 0.001), and Long-Distance (37,600 ± 14,430 vs.22,254 ± 14,418yards;p < 0.001) swimmers (non-pandemic vs. pandemic season, respectively). For the 25 swimmers who competed in Regional Championships, in both the pandemic and non-pandemic years, Sprinters swam faster (n = 8;-0.5 ± 0.6secs), while Mid-Distance (n = 10;0.17 ± 2.1secs) and Long-Distance (n = 7;6.0 ± 4.9secs) swimmers swam slower (F = 11.76;p = 0.0003;r2 = 0.52) with the reduced training volume. CONCLUSION: Pandemic-induced stressors contributed to ~1 out of every 4 (~23%) swimmers opting out of the 2020-21 season. The pandemic caused significant reductions in swim training volume, with Sprinters performing better while Long-Distance swimmers performed worse compared with a non-pandemic year.