COVID-19 Effects in external load in high level football

Abstract

We analyzed the effect of the cessation of competition for COVID-19 on the physical performance of soccer players in the 1st Spanish division). The sample was stratified into three groups: 1st-3rd rounds; 25th-27th and 28th-30th. Pairwise comparisons were Student-t and Mann-Whitney U. We used a p-value of ≤0.05 as the criterion for statistical significance. Threshold values for evaluating effect size magnitudes were made using (Cohen's d). After the break, the distances traveled increased for the local and visiting teams. There was a slight decrease in high intensity efforts between post-confinement and the days (25th-27th). Comparing the 1st and 3rd period, values were slightly higher (rounds 28-30). The same was observed in those of accelerations and decelerations, with greater differences between the periods (1st and 3rd). There were differences when the resumption was compared with the days before the break