An online training program was effective on improving physical performance and body composition in U20 soccer players during the COVID-19 quarantine

Elite sports were severely affected by COVID-19. Prolonged periods of detraining and staying at home have a negative influence on athletes’ physical conditioning. Therefore, is recommended for most athletes keep training at home to reduce the negative side effects of detraining. This study aimed to verify the effects of a 15-week online training intervention during a pandemic quarantine in body composition and physical capacity of highly trained soccer players. Sixteen male under-20 soccer players were assessed after the first period of COVID-19 quarantine (March 2020 to September 2020; 170 days), and after the second period of COVID-19 quarantine (November 2020 to February 2021, 107 days). Body composition, vertical jump height, hamstring maximum strength and aerobic capacity were assessed. The online training program was performed during the second lockdown. In comparison with first pre assessments, results showed that fat mass (-0.95 ± 1.27), free fat mass (1.22 ± 1.19), squat jump height (5.36 ± 1.99) and counter movement jump (3.19 ± 3.77) were significantly improved (p 0.05). In summary, the findings of this study highlight the importance of carrying out an online training program during a period of absence from traditional soccer training, in order to maintain the level of physical capacities of youth soccer players.

新冠疫情对精英体育赛事造成了严重冲击。长期停训（detraining）与居家状态会对运动员的身体机能产生负面影响。因此，建议大多数运动员居家训练，以减轻停训带来的负面效应。本研究旨在验证疫情隔离期间，为期15周的线上训练干预对高水平足球运动员身体成分（body composition）与运动能力的影响。研究共纳入16名20岁以下男子足球运动员，分别在首次新冠隔离期（2020年3月至2020年9月，共170天）结束后，以及第二次新冠隔离期（2020年11月至2021年2月，共107天）结束后开展测评。测评指标涵盖身体成分、垂直起跳高度、腘绳肌（hamstring）最大力量以及有氧能力。线上训练计划于第二次封控期间实施。与首次测评结果相比，研究显示受试者的脂肪量（-0.95±1.27）、去脂体重（free fat mass，1.22±1.19）、深蹲跳高度（5.36±1.99）以及反向跳（counter movement jump，3.19±3.77）高度均得到显著提升（p<0.05）。综上，本研究结果表明，在传统足球训练中断期间开展线上训练计划，对于维持青少年足球运动员的运动能力水平具有重要意义。