Preparation, Exercising, and Motivation in Sports Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic among Young Football Players in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Covid-19 outbreak has also led to significant changes in football, such as the suspension of leagues, isolation, and the fact that football players are forced to train on their own. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in the level of preparation, practices, and motivation for athletic training among young professional football players during the Covid-19 pandemic, depending on the level of competition. The sample of respondents consisted of 82 young football players from Bosnia and Herzegovina, divided into the first league group (n=47, 18.30±0.62 age) and the second league group (n=35, 17.66±0.73 age). The questionnaire for sports preparation and training (SPEQ) was used, which consists of 11 items and was created according to the existing questionnaire for self-assessment of the level of preparation and type of training of athletes during the training process in the Covid-19 pandemic. Also, a questionnaire on sports motivation during the Covid-19 pandemic was used, consisting of 18 items related to motivation to participate in sports, modified according to the Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ). A five-point Likert scale was used for the questionnaire. The questionnaire was available in electronic form and was sent to the football players through a Google form. The difference was found only in the frequency of the type of exercise in two variables, while there were no differences between the groups of young football players in the other variables of training frequency, level of preparation, and motivation in sports training. It was also established that despite the Covid-19 situation, the motivation for sports training among young football players was at a very high level. © 2023 Montenegrin Sports Academy. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the COVID-19 Lockdown Impact on Biological Parameters and Physical Performance in Football Players

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in global sustainability, but specifically, this study analyses the impact of lockdown on health and behavior in the game of football. The 2020/2021 Italian football competitive season (indicated as "post-COVID”), taking place following an obliged lockdown and longer than the normal summery season break, was characterized by very short recovery times and was compared to the 2018–2019 "pre-COVID” season, which had a regular course. The comparisons were about anthropometric and hormonal responses, muscle damage, and the physical performance of players in the major league (Serie A), and were made considering two extreme points of the competitive seasons: before the preparatory period (T0) and at the end of the season (T1). Turning to the results, it is significant to note the following: (1) body fat percentage was lower at the start (T0) of the post-COVID season than at the start of the pre-COVID season. During both seasons, serum CK and LDH increased in T1 and were significantly higher in both T0 and T1 of the post-COVID season. (2) Cortisol and testosterone concentrations increased in both seasons from T0 to T1;however, in the post-COVID season, concentrations of both were higher than in the previous season. The testosterone to cortisol ratio increased at the end of the pre-COVID season, whilst strongly decreasing at T1 of the post-COVID season. (3) Blood lactate concentrations significantly decreased during the pre-COVID season but remained unchanged during the post-COVID season. We may conclude that the enforced suspension period and the consequent rapid resumption of all activities influenced the physical and physiological state of professional footballers.

How do international olympic sport federations innovate? The use of crowdfunding and the impact of COVID-19

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the understanding of innovation and crowdfunding of International Olympic Sport Federations (IFs), which are the world governing bodies of their respective sports. Three research questions were addressed: the perceptions of the IFs on the implementation of their innovation programmes during the last four years (2016-2020), the impact of COVID-19 on the IFs capability to innovate, and the crowdfunding strategies of the IFs. A mixed method combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. An online semi-structured questionnaire which included an open answer section was completed by IFs executives (n = 22) and an analysis of the information provided by IFs through various content sources was conducted. Results showed that IFs with less funding had a significantly more innovative approach that their counterparts, that the perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the innovative capability was not unanimous, that they identified sport-specific programmes as the most innovative of all initiatives delivered during the pandemic, and that crowdfunding projects were implemented in their sport but mostly at individual and local levels. From a research perspective, since this is the first study that investigates the innovation and crowdfunding strategies of IFs, future directions include the need for further research with national and regional federations on these topics. Practical implications are suggested for IFs to deliver innovative programmes to satisfy their stakeholder needs and to consider new funding methods such as crowdfunding as part of their strategies.

Is home advantage lost when football matches are played behind closed doors without spectators? Evidence from top European football leagues in the Covid-19 era

When the Covid-19 pandemic reached Europe in mid-March 2020, sport was one of the first activities to be impacted. Precautions taken to limit the spread of the virus resulted in professional football matches being played without spectators. This produced the conditions of a natural experiment enabling the empirical testing of related hypotheses. Using numerous observations from the top European leagues, this study analysed the role of spectators in one of the major phenomena of sports literature - the home advantage i.e., the home team's tendency to win more often than the away team. Strong evidence of the existence of a home advantage both in pre-Covid 19 and Covid-19 periods was found. However, the difference between points earned in favour of the home teams was found to decrease in the Covid period. This was found to be statistically significant when using the Difference-in-Difference (DiD) methodology found in many existing studies. However, alternative analyses 1) using each match as a single observation, rather than adding the away teams in as a control group and 2) taking into account the difference between the performances of the competing teams in previous matches, showed the differences in favour of the home teams with and without spectators to be statistically non-significant. Therefore, it is recommended that in future studies of this kind the most realistic and comprehensive measurement model possible needs to be applied if an accurate picture is to be gained. The conclusion of this study is that, although a decrease in the home advantage was observed when games were played without spectators, it was not sufficient to make a significant difference to that advantage.

'Why now' for AFLW? Providing a new affirmative narrative for women's football in the post-COVID world

As with many other male-dominated sports, for over a century of its history, Australian Rules Football organizations resisted and undermined women's participation in the game. The first league for women footballers commenced in Victoria in 1981. Since then, the growth in women's participation has been substantial, and in 2017, a professional women's Australian Football League (AFLW) commenced. The next phase of the participation of women in football is approaching, and heralds an opportunity for women to (re)gain power within the sport. In October 2019, thirty percent of women players rejected the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement from the Australian Football League (AFL), with the underlying sentiment of wanting a stronger voice in the vision for the future of their game. This paper examines how changing participation rates in community football can transform the narrative of women's football from one of subsidized welfare to women players being necessary for the survival of football.

The construction of a solidarity network as a strategy to support women's football in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic / A formação de uma rede de solidariedade como estratégia de apoio ao futebol praticado por mulheres em meio a pandemia da covid-19 / La formación de una red de solidaridad como estrategia de apoyo al fútbol femenino durante la pandemia del covid-19

Este artigo objetivou analisar campanhas e ações em prol do futebol de mulheres desencadeadas durante a pandemia da covid-19. As análises apresentadas são fruto de um recorte de pesquisa que tomou os sites de notícias como local de produção de dados. Utilizando o buscador do Google, produzimos um levantamento de notícias a partir do termo "futebol feminino" no período entre fevereiro a dezembro de 2020 e realizamos a categorização temática para proceder com as análises. A partir dos conceitos de acontecimento (FOUCAULT, 2014) e bio(necro)política (GALLO, 2021), analisamos a emergência de uma rede de solidariedade como estratégia de apoio ao futebol praticado por mulheres através de campanhas e ações que visaram auxiliar a modalidade a mitigar os efeitos da pandemia da covid-19 (AU).

This article aimed to analyze social enterprises and ac-tions that were triggered by the covid-19 pandemic, and supported women's football during the health crisis. The analyses discussed here are the outcome of a data analysis that considered relevant news websites as a place of data production. Using the Google sear-ch engine, we produced a news survey based on the term "futebol feminino" in the period between February and December 2020 and carried out the thematic categorization to proceed with the analyses. We employed the concepts of event (FOUCAULT, 2014) and bio(necro)politics (GALLO, 2021) to discuss the emergence of these networks, in order to help the sport to mitigate the effects of the covid-19 pandemic (AU).

Este artículo tuvo como objetivo analizar las campañas y acciones de apoyo al fútbol femenino desencadenadas durante la pandemia del covid-19. Los análisis presentados son el resul-tado de un recorte de investigación que tuvo como lugar de pro-ducción de datos los sitios web de noticias. Utilizando el busca-dor de Google, elaboramos una encuesta de noticias en base al término "futebol feminino" en el período comprendido entre fe-brero y diciembre de 2020 y realizamos la categorización temática para proceder con los análisis. A partir de los conceptos de evento (FOUCAULT, 2014) y bio(necro)política (GALLO, 2021) analizamos el surgimiento de una red solidaria como estrategia de apoyo al fútbol practicado por mujeres a través de campañas y acciones que pretendían ayudar a la modalidad a mitigar los efectos de la pandemia del covid-19. La movilización y el compromiso alrededor a estas campañas contribuyeron a mantener el deporte visible y vivo en la escena brasileña en medio de la crisis (AU).

Decisions about College Football during Covid-19: An Ethical Analysis.

This manuscript uses competitive college football as a lens into the complexities of decision-making amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Pulling together what is known about the decision-makers, the decision-making processes, the social and political context, the risks and benefits, and the underlying obligations of institutions to these athletes, we conduct an ethical analysis of the decisions surrounding the 2020 fall football season. Based on this ethical analysis, we provide key recommendations to improve similar decision processes moving forward.

Futures of Change and Futures of Uncertainty: The Impacts of COVID-19 and Movements for Racial Justice in English Football and NASCAR

The sporting world in a post COVID-19 environment will undergo meaningful changes to many aspects of its existence over the next few years. Structural changes to the sport, fan interaction, fan identity, economic impacts on the local communities, and various changes to the physical landscape, are all issues we are likely to see after sporting leagues resume "normal” operations. This chapter seeks to examine how the COVID-19 virus will impact sports from a geographic perspective. What does an overall structural change to a sport mean for local communities' economy and neighborhood identity? This project will offer a better understanding of the social, racial justice, and economic impacts felt at the local level by examining the English Premier league and NASCAR as barometers. This chapter will compare data collected prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 to data collected after, both datasets dealing with similar issues involved with the sports discussed here. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

EKONOMICZNE, SPOŁECZNE I POLITYCZNE ASPEKTY KRYZYSU PANDEMICZNEGO W POLSKIM FUTBOLU. ANALIZA SOCJOLOGICZNA

Celem artykułu jest zaprezentowanie najważniejszych wniosków z kryzysu w polskiej piłce nożnej wywołanego przez pandemię COVID-19. W badaniu dokonano jakościowej analizy treści materiałów prasowych opisujących doniesienia dotyczące futbolu oraz przeprowadzono wywiady pogłębione w wariancie eksperckim z osobami pełniącymi ważne funkcje w środowisku zawodowej piłki nożnej. Wyniki analizy pokazują niespotykaną od dekad skalę negatywnych konsekwencji dla całego ekosystemu piłkarskiego. Najważniejsze z nich obejmowały kwestie: bezpośredniego zagrożenia zdrowia, ekonomii (widmo krachu na rynku piłkarskim), trudności organizacyjno-formalnych oraz wątpliwości wobec politycznego zaangażowania w proces przywrócenia futbolu. Szybkie i zakończone sukcesem wdrożenie planu odmrażania polskiej piłki nożnej ostatecznie uchroniło najważniejszych interesariuszy przed urzeczywistnieniem się najbardziej pesymistycznych scenariuszy (np. niewydolności finansowej i bankructw).Alternate :The paper aims to present the key conclusions from the crisis in Polish football caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is based on desk research and secondary data analysis: content analysis in media (press article's comparative analysis) and semi-structured interviews (conducted with experts with representatives of Polish football community). The results show an unprecedented scale of negative consequences for the entire football ecosystem. Those included health threat, economic problems, organizational difficulties, and ambiguous political involvement in the process of restoring football. The quick restart of the Polish football protected the most important stakeholders from the worst-case scenarios (e.g., bankruptcies) coming true.

The impact of the pandemic on sports companies: comparative rate analysis of champions league and Turkish football companies

Today, when sports have become a very important sector for the economy, football, which is one of the favorite elements of the sports sector, has a very large financial position among other sports branches. Many different organizations such as UEFA also contributed to this position. In this study, the effect of the Covid-19 epidemic, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, on football clubs was analyzed through the financial statements of football clubs. In the research, the ratio analysis method was applied through the financial statements of the three football clubs in the category of UEFA champions league leaders as of 5 May 2021 and the football companies traded in the BIST for the periods 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. As a result, it has been revealed that all clubs were affected negatively compared to the pre-pandemic period, but the three clubs, which are UEFA leaders, were less affected by the negative effects of the pandemic due to their strong financial resources and sporting successes. In the evaluation of the research, it has been revealed that Besiktas is the club with the best debt-paying power among the clubs in Turkey. It was evaluated that the net working capital of the other three clubs was negative. It is understood that the three clubs, which are the ranking leaders in 2021, have strong financial positions that do not differ much from each other. It is another result that the solvency and resource structures of Turkish football clubs and UEFA ranking leaders are far from each other. This situation is generally;It can be attributed to sportive success, the difference in the income balance and the increase in the exchange rate in our country.

The cauldron has cooled down: a systematic literature review on home advantage in football during the COVID-19 pandemic from a socio-economic and psychological perspective

The phenomenon of home advantage (home bias) is well-analyzed in the scientific literature. But only the COVID-19 pandemic enabled studies on this phenomenon—for the first time in history—on a global scale. Thus, several studies to date examined the effects of empty stadiums by comparing regular matches (with supporters) before the COVID-19 restrictions with so-called ghost games (games without supporters) during the pandemic. To synthesize the existing knowledge and offer an overview regarding the effects of ghost games on home advantage we provide a systematic literature review on this topic. Our findings—based on 26 primary studies—indicate that ghost games have a considerable impact on the phenomenon of home advantage. Deeper analysis further indicates that this effect is based on a reduced "referee bias” and a lack of "emotional support from the ranks”. From a psychological perspective, we argue that our conclusions are highly relevant by emphasizing decision making under pressure and crowd-induced motivation in sports. From a socio-economic perspective, we argue that our findings legitimize a discussion regarding compensation of fans after sporting success as plausible and worth considering. Thus, our results are significant for scientists, sports and team managers, media executives, fan representatives and other persons responsible in the football industry.

Virus (COVID-19) Epidemic and Sports Performance: Evidence from Asian Professional Football Clubs

When the COVID-19 epidemic spread around the world, researchers did many studies about sports and COVID-19, but there was not much quantitative research. Therefore the purpose of this study was the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic on the sports performance of Asian football clubs with quintile regression. This study used panel data for fifteen Asian football clubs from April to December 2020. The research used the points of Asia football clubs to estimate their sports performance. Also, this study collected cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 epidemic as the other two variables. According to the results, because coefficient estimates (degree of depend-ence) for each quantile are equal (for both effects CA on SP and effect DE on SP), the dependence structure is said to be constant. Therefore, a positive estimate and equivalent in all quantile for the impact of cases of COVID-19 virus (CA) on Sports Performance (SP) show that cases of COVID-19 virus (CA) have a constant positive effect on sports performance (SP). A negative estimate and equivalent in all quantile for the impact of death of COVID-19 virus (DE) on Sports Performance (SP) show that death of COVID-19 virus (DE) has a constant negative effect on Sports Performance (SP). © 2023, Stanislaw Podobinski Publishing House of the Jan Dlugosz University. All rights reserved.

Under-researched populations and topics in sport and exercise medicine (SEM)

Correspondence to Dr Sharief Hendricks, Division of Physiological Sciences and Health through Physical Activity, Lifetsyle and Sport Research Centre, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape 7725, South Africa;sharief.hendricks01@gmail.com In this South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA) edition of BJSM, we spotlight work on under-researched populations and topics in sport and exercise medicine (SEM). Youth sport, TGNC athletes and mental health Access to athlete mental health care, like physical care, can be considered a resource that allows athletes to function, cope with stress, perform and achieve their goals. In 2019, the IOC established the Mental Health Working Group to develop an assessment battery for the early identification of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes.3 The internal consistency of the mental health assessment battery has been tested in elite athletes, but can the same internal consistency be shown for student athletes?

Impact of COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures on physical-sports activity among adolescents in a rural population

The aim of this study was to analyse the changes related to the practice of physical-sports activities (P-SA) in adolescents owing to COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures. A total of 259 students (mean age=13.98+or-1.61 years) from a high school gave information on their physical-sports habits during the first year of the pandemic. The results showed a clear association between P-SA prior to the establishment of the state of alarm with P-SA practised after, and during the new normality. Also, a sporting club's membership was positively related to P-SA. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the duration of official training was the factor that most explained P-SA levels after confinement and during the new normality. In relation to post-confinement P-SA, males were more likely to practise more P-SA than females, but during the new normality, this factor was no longer significant and living with a family member at risk and the practice of individual sports became more important. These findings show that membership of a sporting club and commitment to training mitigated the negative impact of these health measures. Guidelines to ensure the maintenance of P-SA in adolescents should be established if similar situations are repeated in the future.

Can the supplementation of vitamin D, sun exposure, and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic affect the seasonal concentration of 25(OH)D and selected blood parameters among young soccer players in a one-year training season?

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of vitamin D supplementation, sunlight radiationradiation, and home isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic on the seasonal changes in 25(OH)D concentration and selected biomarkers in young soccer players along a one-year training cycle. METHOD: Forty elite young soccer players (age: 17.2 ± 1.16 years, body mass: 70.2 ± 5.84, and body height: 179.1 ± 4.26 cm) participated in the research. Only 24 players completed the measurements during all four time- points (T1-: September 2019, T2-: December 2019, T3-: May 2020, and T4-: August 2020) and were divided into two subgroups: supplemented group (GS) and placebo group (GP). Players from GS received 5,000 IU of vitamin D for 8 weeks (January-MarchJanuary-March 2020). Several biomarkers such as 25(OH)D, white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), muscle damage markersmarkers, and lipid profile were measured. RESULTS: AnalysisThe analysis of the total group demonstrated significant seasonal changes in 25(OH)D, HGB, asparagine aminotransferaseaminotransferase, and creatine kinase along the one1-year training cycle. The level of 25(OH)D concentrationinconcentration in T4 was significantly (p < 0.001, pη [ = 0.82) higher in both subgroups in comparison to T2 and T3. Moreover, the significant (p = 0.023) but poor (r = -0.23) correlation between 25(OH)D and WBC was calculated. CONCLUSION: Current research confirmed the significant seasonal changes in 25(OH)D concentration during four seasons. 8-weekEight-week vitamin D supplementation had no extended effect on the level of 25(OH)D concentration.

The Representation of Data as an Informative and Brand-building Element in Sports Competitions: Technological Innovations in the Graphics of LaLiga Santander

Graphics are of paramount importance in today's sports broadcasts, as they contribute to the understanding of the event, define the visual identity of the competitions and promote the spectacularisation of these events. This study focuses on the graphic representations of data in LaLiga Santander football broadcasts. Through a bibliographic-documentary review and four in-depth interviews with LaLiga officials, the aim is to analyse the use of graphics in this competition and to describe the technical tools used to design and develop its audiovisual graphic material. It also seeks to determine the expressive-narrative impact it has on the broadcasts and to identify the human team in charge of this process. This work demonstrates that the graphic representation of data not only has an informa-tive function, but also has an impact on the visual identity of the competition itself and on increasing the attractiveness of its audiovisual products. In this way, techniques such as Live 3D Graphics, 360 degrees replays or the goal probability model influence the narrative of broadcasts and are useful for both football fans and professionals.

Measuring the Efficiency of English Football Clubs: Empirical Evidence from Professional Football

The aim of the paper is to propose a method for evaluating the performance of football clubs based on the method of Data Envelopment Analysis. The article also deals with the impact of the reprisals caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which limited fans' access to the stadiums as well as the football competitions themselves. Professional English football clubs playing in the English Premier League were selected for empirical analysis. The performance evaluation of English football clubs is an important reference for team managers, the management of individual clubs and the selected competition as a whole. One of the two most frequently used DEA models, the CCR model, was used to analyze the relative efficiency of football clubs. The study focuses on clubs operating in the highest English football competition during the seasons 2017/18 to 2020/21.

recreational team games on untrained males in post COVID-19 scenario

Objective of the study was to examine the effect of small-side mixed recreational games on physical characteristics of university youth. Methods: Twenty-six male chosen and divided randomly into experimental (n=16) and control group (n=9). Experimental group was offered mixed recreational games thrice a week for 12 weeks. Mixed games included small sided football, basketball and handball. Training was given for 30 minutes. Independent Ttest was used to check group differences at start and post intervention. Product Moment Correlation was used to check correlation between aerobic capacity and body fat. Results: Body fat percent (t23= -2.123, P= 0.045), aerobic capacity (t23= 2.220, P= 0.037), oxygen saturation (t23 = 2.182, P = 0.040) and resting heart rate (t23= 2.123, P= 0.045). Significant relationship between body fat and aerobic capacity was seen in the intervention group (r= -0.675, n=16, p= 0.004). Conclusions: It can be concluded that mixed recreational games are effective and should be promoted among youth for better health. Unstructured and supervised recreational games are effective in promoting physical health and are enjoyed by young participants.

Associations between sleep and women's football: a systematic literature review

Sleep plays a fundamental role in the development of the body and in the maintenance of physiological functions. Athletes show high signs of stress and anxiety, promoting situations of sleep disturbance, which can be harmful to health, athletes' performance and the incidence of injuries. Understanding the subject is increasingly important for sports teams and their technical committees, which want to prevent injuries and improve the performance of their athletes. We performed a systematic review on sleep associations in female soccer athletes. In addition, we highlight possible limitations of current studies in order to conclude with recommendations for further research. We carried out a systematic search of the literature in the Pubmed and Scielo databases, with the keywords "sleep, football and women " in Portuguese and English. Current and relevant articles with intervention reports were included in the research, relating it to the sleep assessment of athletes, through validated instruments such as polysomnography, questionnaires, and scales. Eight articles were included for the review. The selected studies showed that night time training and games, competitive game days, menstrual cycle days and the COVID19 pandemic can significantly affect sleep quality, especially total sleep time and sleep latency of female soccer athletes, which are important variables for the performance of athletes. New studies with strategies and manipulations need to be carried out in order to find ways and solutions to improve the sleep of athletes.

Covid-19: Reflections on threat and uncertainty for the future of elite women's football in England

This commentary offers an analysis of the implications of Covid-19 on the future of elite women's football, with the intention of reflecting on and illuminating the threat and uncertainty facing the game. Topics covered include (1) organisational and economic repercussions;(2) consequences for player contracts, migration and investment;and (3) player wellbeing. These significant challenges require swift and decisive action in order to mitigate their potential effects. Recommendations are made for governing bodies, parent clubs and practitioners, in addition to possible future research directions for academics. We reflect upon what can be done during and post-pandemic to continue the momentum and growth of women's football in England, highlighting the need for football clubs to learn from previous crises by embracing innovation and entrepreneurship.