Comparative Analysis of Soccer Performance Intensity of the Pre–Post-Lockdown COVID-19 in LaLiga™

Abraham García-Aliaga, Moisés Marquina, Antonio Cordón-Carmona, Manuel Sillero-Quintana, Alfonso de la Rubia, Silvestre Jos Vielcazat, Fabio Nevado Garrosa and Ignacio Refoyo Román
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Abraham García-Aliaga: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Sports Department), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Moisés Marquina: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Sports Department), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Antonio Cordón-Carmona: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Sports Department), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Manuel Sillero-Quintana: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Sports Department), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Alfonso de la Rubia: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Sports Department), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Silvestre Jos Vielcazat: Department of Competitions and Mediacoach, LaLiga, 28043 Madrid, Spain
Fabio Nevado Garrosa: Department of Competitions and Mediacoach, LaLiga, 28043 Madrid, Spain
Ignacio Refoyo Román: Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (INEF-Sports Department), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-9

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) forced a stoppage in the 2019/2020 season of LaLiga™, possibly influencing performance indicators in the return to competition. Therefore, here, we evaluated whether the stoppage due to the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) lockdown influenced physical performance compared to the start of LaLiga TM in terms of high-intensity efforts. Using a semi-automatic, multiple-camera system, running activities during 22 matches were analyzed. We compared the first 11 matches of the season (pre-lockdown) with the 11 matches just after the restart of LaLiga™ (post-lockdown). The results showed higher ( p < 0.05) performance in the pre-lockdown period compared with the post-lockdown period, including in medium-speed running (14.1–21 km/h), high-speed running (21.1–24 km/h), and sprinting speed running distances (>24 km/h). However, the number of accelerations/min and decelerations/min were significantly higher during the post-lockdown period. Therefore, we conclude that the stoppage due to the COVID-19 lockdown generated lower physical performance in the post-lockdown period compared with the pre-lockdown period, most likely due to the accumulation of matches (congested schedules).

Keywords: performance; elite soccer; match running; activity profile; physical demands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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