ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The SARS-COV2 agent initiated a global pandemic. The initial response to the pandemic was severe disruption to the public and private sector including sports. The resultant was that soccer clubs had to prescribe that the players trained in isolation for a prolonged period of time in an attempt to maintain fitness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a 10-week period of training in isolation on aerobic fitness, body composition and injury incidence on the return to pre-season team-training in a group of elite, male soccer players. METHODS: Twenty-two professional soccer players (age: 25.2 ± 4.4 years) who played for an English Championship first team participated in this study. A weekly training programme was sent to each player at the start of each week. Prior to the start of the isolated training period, all players underwent a maximal aerobic speed test (MAS) and body mass index data (BMI) were obtained. These measurements were repeated on the return to team training. RESULTS: There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in MAS pre-post isolated training (Pre: 4.71 ± 0.15 vs Post: 4.92 ± 0.17 m/s), no change in BMI (Pre: 24.3 ± 1.3 vs Post: 24.1 ± 1.1 kg/m2) and a low non-contact, soft tissue muscle incidence on the return to team training. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence from this study suggests that a more prolonged preseason schedule can enhance aerobic conditioning and mitigate the injury risk on the return to competitive match-play in elite soccer players.
ABSTRACT
Professional soccer players typically perform regular training sessions and match play for most of the yearly macrocycle with limited time focused on solely developing physical development. The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 caused mass disruption to professional soccer but provided an opportunity for an alternative approach to training in attempt to develop professional soccer players physical fitness levels. In a non-randomised and non-controlled study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of a 13-week remote based physical training programme on physical fitness levels in elite professional soccer players. Twenty professional soccer players undertook body composition assessments, a countermovement jump (CMJ) test, eccentric hamstring strength test and a submaximal 30?15 intermittent fitness test (IFT) pre- and post-remote based training programme. Body mass (79.3?±?6.7 vs. 80.0?±?7.3?kg), skinfold thickness (54.1?±?14.8 vs. 56.7?±?15.2?mm), maximum CMJ height (38.4?±?3.4 vs. 40.9?±?4.1?cm), eccentric hamstring strength (1035?±?158 vs. 1009?±?140 n) and percentage max heart rate reached in submaximal 30?15 IFT (81.3?±?5.2 vs. 82.3?±?7.3%) were maintained (all P > 0.05) from pre- to post training programme, respectively. Although team-based soccer specific training load was removed, and the training programmes prescribed had an increased physical focus, fitness levels were maintained. This suggests that alternative modes of training can potentially be used in instances where team-based soccer specific training load isn?t required or is unavailable, without negatively impacting physical development.