Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions designed to slow the spread of infection greatly disrupted people’s lives. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of lockdown on the psychology, training, and sleep habits of a cohort of basketball players. An online survey involving 169 professional and amateur athletes was conducted using four validated psychological questionnaires (WLEIS-S, POMS, BRS, SMS-II) and a Likert scale to measure the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and training variables. Gender differences in fatigue (p = 0.022); friendships (p = 0.017); others’ emotional appraisal (p < 0.001); and resilience (p = 0.031) were apparent, with higher values for women in all categories bar resilience. Comparisons before and during the lockdown revealed that all participants reduced their RPE (p < 0.001); training days (p = 0.004); and training hours (p < 0.001), and experienced a decline in the quality of sleep (p < 0.001). Sleep hours (p < 0.001) increased during lockdown. The professionals and females maintained their training days (p > 0.05), while the non-professionals and males did not. Psychological states during lockdown were a predictor of the differences in training and recovery variables. In situations where training and competition are limited, it is important to develop plans to maintain physical activity, good quality sleep, and promote greater emotional management and understanding to control negative moods.
Highlights
In 2020, a virus called Coronavirus 2 (SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome]-CoV-2 or COVID-19) caused an unexpected pandemic [1]
Differences by gender were found for fatigue (p = 0.022); friendship (p = 0.017); others’ emotion appraisal (OEA)
Rating of perceived exertion: the model was significant at step 1 (F(2,166) = 4.30; p = 0.015; r2 = 0.049) and at step 2 (F(12,156) = 3.17; p < 0.001; r2 = 0.196)
Summary
In 2020, a virus called Coronavirus 2 (SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome]-CoV-2 or COVID-19) caused an unexpected pandemic [1]. The Spanish government declared a state of alarm on 15 March, putting its cities in lockdown. This reduced people’s mobility and forced the closure of sports facilities and training centres [2]. Athletes were unable to continue training or competing as usual, regardless of their sporting level. The last official round (23) of the basketball league before lockdown was played on 7–8 March 2020, and from that point, the players’ lifestyles and training regimes became subject to several changes. The subsequent period of physical inactivity, which is typical of team sports during the off-season, would have negative effects on their fitness and mental well-being [3]
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