The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Youth Athlete Mental Health: A Narrative Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We discuss current research on the mental health effects of COVID-19 sports restrictions on youth athletes, highlighting the largest problems, as well as how organizations can help youth athletes by preparing for and responding to these problems. RECENT FINDINGS: Millions of children and adolescents worldwide participate in organized sports, which has significant physical and mental health benefits. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered large-scale, public restrictions that forced the closure and cancelation of organized youth sports across the world. Sports cancelations not only removed these protective benefits, but also worsened the mental health of youth athletes who were no longer able to participate in their sports. Youth athletes are even more vulnerable than adults to the negative mental health effects of sports restrictions. The unexpected loss of sports from COVID-19 restrictions disrupted these youths' athletic identities and worsened youth athlete depression, anxiety, anger, sleep, and quality of life. Restrictions particularly affected certain high-risk subpopulations of youth athletes including females, high school upperclassmen, those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and those from team sports. Sports organizations could limit the negative mental health impacts of future sports cancelations by implementing at-home training opportunities, remote check-ins with teammates, discussions about athletic identity with coaches and sports psychology professionals, and mindfulness skill-building.

Impact of COVID-19 infection on sports performance of elite university athletes.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary functions of athletes can be affected by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate athletes' pattern of returning to sports after COVID-19, their experience of COVID-19-associated symptoms, and the disturbance in sports performance caused by the symptoms. METHODS: Elite university athletes who were infected with COVID-19 in 2022 were recruited for the survey and the data for 226 respondents were analyzed. Information about COVID-19 infection and the degree of disturbance in ordinary training and competition was collected. Their returning pattern to sports, the prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms, the degree of disturbance in sports by related symptoms, and factors associated with disturbance in sports and fatigue were analyzed. RESULTS: Results showed that 53.5% of the analyzed athletes returned to ordinary training immediately after quarantine, while 61.5% experienced disturbance in ordinary training, and 30.9% experienced that in competition. Most prevalent COVID-19 symptoms were lack of energy, easy fatiguability and cough. Disturbance in ordinary training and competition were mainly related to generalized, cardiologic, and respiratory symptoms. Women and those with severe and generalized symptoms had significantly higher odds of experiencing disturbance in training. Those with cognitive symptoms had higher odds of being "fatigue case." CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the athletes returned immediately to sports after the legal quarantine period of COVID-19 infection and experienced disturbance in ordinary training by related symptoms. Prevalent COVID-19 symptoms and the associated factors causing disturbance in sports and fatigue case were also revealed. This study will be helpful to establish the safe return guidelines essential for athletes after COVID-19.

Predicting Athlete Intentions for Using Sports Complexes in the Post-Pandemic Era.

In recent years, the concept of health has gradually fit into people's lives through the government's promotion. The indoor sports complex is becoming more and more popular, offering people the opportunity to engage in physical and recreational activities regardless of weather conditions. Psychological and social abundance is the key to improving happiness, and the most important thing is to treat and care for yourself. Many fitness venues have emerged to provide athletes with a wide range of choices. However, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by a virus mainly transmitted through direct contact or air droplets, has had a severe impact on indoor gym users. Therefore, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Health-Promoting Lifestyle (HPL), this research investigated athletes' behavioral intentions regarding sports halls and perceived risks as interfering variables. For data collection, we collected data samples from sports complexes athletes in Taiwan. A total of 263 responses were analyzed via SPSS 20.0 (IBM Corporation, New York, NY, USA) and AMOS 20.0 (IBM Corporation, New York, NY, USA) seis tests. The study's results indicate that health-promoting lifestyle cognition has a positive and significant effect on behavioral intention; athletes' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly affects the behavioral intention of using the facilities in a sports complex. Athletes' risk perceptions have an interference effect between HPL, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions of using the facilities in a sports complex. Sports venue managers can refer to the results of this project to develop marketing strategies and promoting.

Athlete Identity and Mental Health of Student Athletes during COVID-19.

The purpose of our study is to evaluate athletic identity (AI) and mental health measures of youth and young adult athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study recruited athletes aged 11-25 years from universities, high schools, and middle schools in California and New York. Participants were emailed a link to an anonymous, cross-sectional electronic survey. The measure included the athletic identity measurement scale (AIMS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), and demographic variables. Chi-square, Fisher's Exact Test, and linear regression were used to examine the relationships between AI, symptoms of anxiety, and symptoms of depression by age, gender, and race. The survey was completed by 653 participants. AI was stratified by tertiary percentiles. The odds of positively scoring for symptoms of anxiety were 60% higher for participants in college compared with high school (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: [1.09, 2.35]). Conversely, the odds of scoring positively for symptoms of depression were 68% higher for participants in high school compared to college (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: [1.09, 2.59]). The odds of scoring positively for symptoms of depression were higher for athletes who scored as high AI, compared to those who scored as moderate (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: [1.11, 2.68]) or low (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: [1.20, 3.12]). The odds of scoring positively for symptoms of anxiety on the PHQ-4 were 3.2 times higher for participants who identified as female (OR: 3.19, 95% CI: [2.31, 4.41]), and the odds of scoring positively for symptoms of depression were 2.4 times higher for participants who identified as female (OR: 2.35, 95% CI: [1.56, 3.54]). Female athletes experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety at significantly higher rates than male athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. High school students experienced fewer symptoms of anxiety, but greater symptoms of depression as compared to the collegiate group, while college students experienced greater odds of symptoms of anxiety. Athletes in the high AI group were more likely to report symptoms of depression than moderate or low identity groups. Female athletes reported lower AI than male athletes, but still had greater symptoms of anxiety and depression.

COVID-19: Physical Activity Behavior Change among Athletes in Québec (Canada).

The context of the COVID-19 pandemic imposed unprecedented restrictions. Within Canada, which is among the most stringent countries in terms of sanitary rules, Québec was among the provinces that imposed the strictest sanitary measures. The impacts of some measures were felt the most among athletes since they made it difficult, if not impossible, to practice their sports. This article therefore aimed to (1) evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the athletes' overall level of physical activity, (2) look at the relationship between overall level of physical activity and the level of psychological well-being and (3) analyze post-pandemic physical activity intentions. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted among 1456 athletes aged 3 to 61 years old. The results of this study show that the limitations imposed during the pandemic led to half of athletes decreasing their overall level of physical activity, leading to a deterioration in their psychological well-being (F(2.1438) = 54.707, p < 0.001). The current research provided further evidence that it is essential to implement strategies that favor practicing physical activities in a pandemic context. Furthermore, since almost all individuals who increased their practice of wheeled sports during the pandemic intend to continue after the pandemic, this is a great opportunity to promote active transportation among athletes by ensuring that the perception of the benefits associated with it does not decrease with time.

Psychological and Mental Sequelae in Elite Athletes with Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many athletes from several sporting disciplines were infected with the SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current scientific evidence on the psychological sequelae and mental health of elite athletes who have been infected by the virus. The review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement; three databases were searched: PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus. The initial search resulted in 2420 studies; after duplicate removal and screening by title and abstract, 41 articles were screened by full-text. A total of four eligible articles were included in the review. All included articles measured depression and anxiety in athletes who had suffered from COVID-19, while in three papers levels of stress were measured. Overall, the only two questionnaires used in more than one study were the DASS-21 and the APSQ. In our systematic review, we highlighted that mental and psychological health in elite athletes has the same importance as physical health. This statement suggests that these examinations should be introduced and performed during the competitive sports' medical examinations conducted at the start of the sporting season, which currently consists only of the examination of physical parameters. Due to lack of studies on the topic, the results of our review show that mental health in athletes with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection is an issue that requires more investigation, considering the evidence of clinical consequences. The importance of post-infection psychological sequelae is significant in assessing possible repercussions on the athletes' sporting performance.

When You Can't Play Sports: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Motivational and Emotional Experiences in Coach-Athlete Dyads.

(1) Background: This study aimed to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on athletes' and coaches' experiences. Following the Dualistic Model of Passion and the Self-determination Theory, the objectives of this study were to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions affected athletes' and coaches' passion experiences, emotional experiences and basic psychological needs while engaging in their sport activities. Furthermore, the relationship between passion and emotional experiences as well as between passion and the basic psychological needs were explored; (2) Methods: 87 coach-athlete dyads, active at the recreational or competitive level in an individual sport, participated in the study. Using a cross-sectional dyadic design, athletes and coaches reported separately on their passion experience, emotional experiences and basic psychological needs in the previous two weeks; (3) Results: In total, 30 dyads were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while 57 were not. Athletes' obsessive passion as well coaches' negative affect were larger in impacted dyads, while athletes' positive affect was lower in that group compared to the not-impacted group. Moderated Actor-Partner Interdependence Models revealed that coaches' obsessive passion was more strongly related to their negative affect in coach-athlete dyads that were not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic than in dyads that were impacted. Furthermore, the harmonious passion of coaches was more strongly associated with athletes' need satisfaction and need frustration in impacted dyads, while also the athletes' harmonious passion in impacted dyads was more strongly associated with coaches' need satisfaction; (4) Conclusions: Less positive outcomes and more negative outcomes were observed in both athletes and coaches that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic may have suppressed the negative effects of coaches' obsessive passion on their negative affect, but strengthened the positive impact of coaches' harmonious passion on the athletes' need satisfaction and vice versa.

Favorable Adaptation during SARS-CoV-2-Pandemic as Told by Student-Athletes-A Longitudinal and Behavioral Study.

(1) Background: The aim was to explore the impact of adaptive responses (resilience factors) on student-athletes' behaviors during a stressful period of life during the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic of 2020 and 2021. (2) Methods: A constructivist-based grounded theory (CGT) was used guided by a biopsychosocial approach. Based on purposeful sampling, 22 male and female student-athletes were divided into four focus group interviews (FGI) seven months after the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic (October 2020) and 18 of these were followed up by FGI seven months later (May 2021). The mean age was 17.65 and they represented golf and handball. (3) Results: The CGT contained four main categories seven months after the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic outbreak: Social support, Self-discipline, Physical practice and recovery and Management of everyday life. Fourteen months after the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic outbreak, four additional main categories emerged: More extensive social support, Belief in the future, Self-awareness and Responsibility and problem-solving. (4) Conclusions: The CTG suggests that student-athletes' favorable adaptations to the stressful SARS-CoV-2-pandemic period 2020-2021 are based on a gradually developed ability to take responsibility for one's own actions, insight into the importance of deepened social interaction, belief in a positive post-COVID future and increased awareness of physical activity and its relation to perceived health.

Anxiety, sleep quality and mood in elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The social isolation (quarantine) caused by COVID-19 has generated several consequences for the physical and mental health of the general population; however, little is known about the effects of this disease on elite athletes. We seek to assess the effect of social isolation on anxiety, sleep quality and quality of life for elite athletes. METHODS: 206 athletes from collective and individual sports (116 men and 90 women) participated in the present study, with an average age of 24.61±8.73 years. Time devoted to physical training before and during the pandemic was assessed. Assessment of anxiety symptoms, sleep quality and mood were assessed using semistructured questionnaires. RESULTS: There was a reduction in hours dedicated to training, as well as in training sessions for both groups evaluated. There is a high prevalence (>90%) of anxiety symptoms (medium and high) in both groups. There were no major losses in the sleep quality of the athletes (>75% presented regular to very good sleep). CONCLUSIONS: There are no differences regarding the traits and state of anxiety between athletes of collective and individual modalities. However, both groups showed traces of anxiety, which, from the point of view of health, becomes worrying.

Relationship between Sports and Personal Variables and the Competitive Anxiety of Colombian Elite Athletes of Olympic and Paralympic Sports.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is one of the most complex and the most studied constructs in psychology, and it is extremely frequent in high-level sportsmen and women. The main goal was to study the influence of sex, age, type of sport, sport modality, other professional occupation, and competitive level on the competitive anxiety symptoms and self-confidence of elite athletes. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with Colombian elite athletes who were members of the "Support to the Excellence Coldeportes Athlete" program. The total population studied included 334 Colombian elite athletes: mean age 27.10 ± 6.57 years old with 13.66 ± 6.37 years practicing his/her sports modality. The precompetitive anxiety symptoms of the participants were assessed using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R (CSAI-2R). RESULTS: Men showed higher levels of self-confidence than women. Younger athletes had a higher cognitive and somatic anxiety. The athletes of individual sports had a higher mean somatic anxiety than those of collective sports. The higher-level athletes had lower values of cognitive and somatic anxiety and higher levels of self-confidence. Finally, the values of anxiety symptoms positively correlated with each other, and negatively correlated with self-confidence. CONCLUSION: Individualised psychological intervention programs adapted to elite athletes are needed, considering the divergent results found in various variables of scientific interest.

Athletes and Coaches through the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative View of Goal Management.

Since the end of 2019 and throughout 2020, the world has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sports world suddenly had to deal with a massive reorganization of events with important implications for the physical and psychological preparation of athletes and coaches. The purpose of this study was to explore how these changes impacted coaches' and athletes' goal-setting strategies and their experience of goal adjustment. As part of a wider mixed-method project involving 2162 coaches and 1354 athletes, an online qualitative survey was used, and data collected were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings highlighted three overarching themes, in response to goal adjustment: "Moving on toward new goals", "Letting go of goals", and "Trying to hold on", with several themes and sub-themes identifying different nuances of athletes' and coaches' experiences. The implications of such findings for the mental preparation of high-level athletes are discussed in two ways. Firstly, in light of existing literature on goal setting from an applied perspective; secondly, in the broader perspective of the sports culture and the application of our themes to other challenging moments that sports professionals might encounter.

Dispositional Mindfulness May Have Protected Athletes from Psychological Distress During COVID-19 in Australia.

Promoting athlete wellbeing has become a priority in elite sport, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the need for a comprehensive understanding of risk and protective factors. Existing sport research has not yet considered whether specific cognitive factors such as dispositional mindfulness and executive function may protect athletes against psychological distress. In a sample of high-performance Australian football athletes (n = 27), we administered measures of dispositional mindfulness (MAAS), executive function (AOSPAN; eStroop), and psychological distress (APSQ) at pre-season, coinciding with the initial (2020) COVID-19-related sport shutdown in Australia. Measures of executive function and psychological distress were re-administered at the end of the COVID-19 affected competitive season in 2020. Athletes reported significantly elevated psychological distress relative to previous estimates of distress among high-performance athletes established in prior studies. Executive functions, including working memory and inhibitory control were not significantly associated with psychological distress or dispositional mindfulness at either timepoint. However, baseline mindfulness was associated with reduced distress at both pre-season (r = -0.48, p = .03) and end of season (r = -0.56, p = .004), suggesting that dispositional mindfulness may have afforded protective buffering against symptoms of distress. Correlation data alone does not establish a directional connection from mindfulness to reduced distress, and future research is required to elucidate this association and/or establish the mechanism/s by which dispositional mindfulness may protect against psychological distress in this population.

Mental health problems and risk assessment in football players infected with SARS-CoV-2: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although the negative psychological impact of the pandemic on athletes is well known, there is currently insufficient evidence regarding mental health (MH) problems among athletes infected with SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between MH problems, demographics, and SARS-CoV-2 related variables in football players infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: An online survey included demographic questions, SARS-CoV-2 related questions, the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 was distributed to male and female professional football players aged between 18-38 and infected with SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 261 football players participated in the study. The odds of athlete-specific distress in lower-level football players were up to 5.9 times more than those competing at the highest level (OR=3.06-5.93, 95% CI: 1.27-14.43, P<0.01). The odds of depression and stress in lower-level football players were up to 6.7 times more than those competing at the highest level (both OR=3.70-6.77, 95% CI: 1.18-19.20, P<0.01). In players who reported sleep problems, there was increased risk of athlete-specific distress (OR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.31-4.52, P<0.01), depression (OR=3.71, 95% CI: 1.98-6.95, P<0.01), anxiety (OR=2.93, 95% CI: 1.62-5.28, P<0.01), and stress (OR=7.08 95% CI: 3.52-14.02, P<0.01). There was increased risk of depression and stress in female players (OR=5.78, 95% CI: 2.03-16.4, P<0.01; OR=4.91, 95% CI: 1.57-15.4, P<0.01; respectively). The odds of anxiety in players who reported severe SARS-C0V-2 symptoms were up to 2.2 times more than asymptomatic players (OR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.08-4.82, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: MH problems in football players infected with SARS-CoV-2 were associated with female gender, participation in football in the lower-level, performance concerns, and sleep problems. MH assessment is indicated in athletes infected with SARS-CoV-2 to support detection, and appropriate and timely intervention.

College Student-athletes' COVID-19 Worry and Psychological Distress Differed by Gender, Race, and Exposure to COVID-19-related Events.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes' exposure to COVID-19-related events (e.g., canceled season, diagnosed with COVID) and their psychological distress in April/May 2020. METHODS: The link to the online survey was emailed to NCAA student-athletes by the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Council and the athletic departments of 80 NCAA institutions. In April-May of 2020, student-athletes (N = 5915; women = 3924) completed the online survey once. The survey included measures of their psychological distress, COVID-19 worry, and their exposure to different COVID-19-related events. To examine differences in exposure to COVID-related events by racial, ethnicity, and gender identities, we conducted logistic regressions. A path analysis examined relationships between COVID-related events, COVID-19 worry, and psychological distress for men and women. RESULTS: Student-athletes' exposure to COVID-19 events differed significantly by gender, race, and ethnicity. In addition, 58.7% of women's and 54.5% of men's psychological distress variance was explained by the path model and mostly by their COVID-related worry. Student-athletes' stress was directly related to the changes that occurred in class delivery (i.e., online format) and indirectly by being quarantined. Men's psychological distress was also related through worry by their sport season being canceled. DISCUSSION: The general uncertainty and worry about COVID individuals experienced at the beginning of this pandemic primarily explained the athletes' high levels of psychological distress. As COVID-19 continues to cause quarantines and changes educational experiences, the worry and psychological distress of college students are likely to continue.

Competing against COVID-19: what about the mental health problems of athletes with disabilities?

OBJECTIVES: Although there is growing interest in athletes' mental health (MH), there is a paucity of research exploring MH in athletes with disabilities (AWD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological state of AWD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey including demographic questions, SARS-CoV-2-related questions, and standardized scales assessing depression, anxiety, stress, coronavirus anxiety (CAS), and nonspecific psychological distress was distributed to AWD. RESULTS: A total of 362 athletes (183 AWD) participated in the study (response rate 31.2%). AWD infected with SARS-CoV-2 reported higher depression, anxiety, and CAS scores than AWD not infected with SARS-CoV-2 (Z = -2.10, ES = 0.15 Z = -3.45, ES = 0.25; Z = -2.43, ES = 0.18; respectively). Female AWD reported higher anxiety scores compared to males (Z = -2.25, ES = 0.16). Depression (Z = -2.80, ES = 0.20), stress (Z = -2.12, ES = 0.15) and K-10 (Z = -2.02, ES = 0.14 scores of individual sport AWD were higher than team sports AWD. CONCLUSION: MH problems in AWD were associated with a wide range of variables such as being infected with SARS-CoV-2, female gender, competing in an individual sport, and having performance concerns. In light of these results, MH assessment should be undertaken for AWD to ensure appropriate and timely intervention.

COVID-19 and Youth Sports: What Are the Risks of Getting Back on the Field Too Quickly?

The widespread shutdown in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, although varied across state and county levels, has undoubtedly impacted everyone to some degree. Within the pediatric population, the closure of schools and organized youth athletic programs has resulted in a unique situation that has made athletes physically deconditioned and at risk for injury. As sports and competition gradually restart, there are considerable risks to the skeletally immature athlete. The anatomic and physiologic changes that occur to bone and cartilage during growth make the young athlete particularly susceptible to both acute and overuse injuries. In the context of the pandemic, deconditioning, obesity, lack of variety, and the resultant mental health burden pose unique challenges in ensuring that young athletes safely return to the field. This review aims to identify risk factors for sport-related injuries and to outline strategies for minimizing these injuries as pediatric patients return-to-play after COVID-19. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(11):e465-e469.].

Current Recommendations on Returning to Youth Sports After COVID-19 Infection.

Children represent a small fraction of total cumulative cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The potential health consequences related to infection for children are not inconsequential. For example, some may develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, which is commonly associated with cardiovascular involvement. Nevertheless, the short- and long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unknown. In particular, the impact on physical health and how it affects one's ability to return to physical activity are continuously evolving. As more youth sports organizations are lifting restrictions, the volume of youth athletes will increase and the demand for providing medical clearance will grow. This article aims to provide a review of return to physical activity guidelines for young athletes post-SARS-CoV-2 infection based on expert consensus statements and professional organization recommendations. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(11):e461-e464.].

Training During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of 12,526 Athletes from 142 Countries and Six Continents.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore the training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of athletes and the influence of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: Athletes (n = 12,526, comprising 13% world class, 21% international, 36% national, 24% state, and 6% recreational) completed an online survey that was available from 17 May to 5 July 2020 and explored their training behaviors (training knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, and practices), including specific questions on their training intensity, frequency, and session duration before and during lockdown (March-June 2020). RESULTS: Overall, 85% of athletes wanted to "maintain training," and 79% disagreed with the statement that it is "okay to not train during lockdown," with a greater prevalence for both in higher-level athletes. In total, 60% of athletes considered "coaching by correspondence (remote coaching)" to be sufficient (highest amongst world-class athletes). During lockdown, < 40% were able to maintain sport-specific training (e.g., long endurance [39%], interval training [35%], weightlifting [33%], plyometric exercise [30%]) at pre-lockdown levels (higher among world-class, international, and national athletes), with most (83%) training for "general fitness and health maintenance" during lockdown. Athletes trained alone (80%) and focused on bodyweight (65%) and cardiovascular (59%) exercise/training during lockdown. Compared with before lockdown, most athletes reported reduced training frequency (from between five and seven sessions per week to four or fewer), shorter training sessions (from ≥ 60 to < 60 min), and lower sport-specific intensity (~ 38% reduction), irrespective of athlete classification. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19-related lockdowns saw marked reductions in athletic training specificity, intensity, frequency, and duration, with notable within-sample differences (by athlete classification). Higher classification athletes had the strongest desire to "maintain" training and the greatest opposition to "not training" during lockdowns. These higher classification athletes retained training specificity to a greater degree than others, probably because of preferential access to limited training resources. More higher classification athletes considered "coaching by correspondence" as sufficient than did lower classification athletes. These lockdown-mediated changes in training were not conducive to maintenance or progression of athletes' physical capacities and were also likely detrimental to athletes' mental health. These data can be used by policy makers, athletes, and their multidisciplinary teams to modulate their practice, with a degree of individualization, in the current and continued pandemic-related scenario. Furthermore, the data may drive training-related educational resources for athletes and their multidisciplinary teams. Such upskilling would provide athletes with evidence to inform their training modifications in response to germane situations (e.g., COVID related, injury, and illness).