Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal study
Abstract This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on 28 indicators of match technical performance (MTP) for football attacking players upon their return to play. Analyzing data from 100 players in the Big Five European football leagues, covering 1500 matches each before and after COVID-19 over 3 y...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56678-y |
| _version_ | 1797259360785661952 |
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| author | Le Luo Ge Sun Enkai Guo Hanbing Xu Zhaohong Wang |
| author_facet | Le Luo Ge Sun Enkai Guo Hanbing Xu Zhaohong Wang |
| author_sort | Le Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on 28 indicators of match technical performance (MTP) for football attacking players upon their return to play. Analyzing data from 100 players in the Big Five European football leagues, covering 1500 matches each before and after COVID-19 over 3 years (2020–2023), revealed significant differences in 76% of players’ MTP indicators. Notably, 14 indicators, particularly the five indicators linked to scoring, significantly decreased post-COVID-19. On average, players needed 3.09 matches to regain pre-infection MTP levels. The impact varied across player groups, with those in the elite group showing a milder effect; they required an average of 2.64 matches for recovery, compared to the control group’s 3.55 matches. We found that, with increasing age, the majority of players’ MTP indicators did not exhibit significant changes, both before and after they contracted COVID-19. In conclusion, the study highlighted the negative impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ MTP. Players in the elite group experienced fewer adverse effects than those in the control group. This insight assisted coaches and managers in evaluating the impact of COVID-19 and similar virus-induced illnesses on players’ MTP, enabling them to formulate training regimens for recovery and specific match tactics upon players' return to play. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:08:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c4a402eadbb47efa9df58a2c80747eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:08:12Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c4a402eadbb47efa9df58a2c80747eb2024-03-17T12:22:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-56678-yImpact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal studyLe Luo0Ge Sun1Enkai Guo2Hanbing Xu3Zhaohong Wang4College of Humanities and Law, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyCollege of Humanities and Law, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyCollege of Physical Education, Hunan Normal UniversityCollege of P. E and Sports, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of P. E and Sports, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on 28 indicators of match technical performance (MTP) for football attacking players upon their return to play. Analyzing data from 100 players in the Big Five European football leagues, covering 1500 matches each before and after COVID-19 over 3 years (2020–2023), revealed significant differences in 76% of players’ MTP indicators. Notably, 14 indicators, particularly the five indicators linked to scoring, significantly decreased post-COVID-19. On average, players needed 3.09 matches to regain pre-infection MTP levels. The impact varied across player groups, with those in the elite group showing a milder effect; they required an average of 2.64 matches for recovery, compared to the control group’s 3.55 matches. We found that, with increasing age, the majority of players’ MTP indicators did not exhibit significant changes, both before and after they contracted COVID-19. In conclusion, the study highlighted the negative impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ MTP. Players in the elite group experienced fewer adverse effects than those in the control group. This insight assisted coaches and managers in evaluating the impact of COVID-19 and similar virus-induced illnesses on players’ MTP, enabling them to formulate training regimens for recovery and specific match tactics upon players' return to play.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56678-y |
| spellingShingle | Le Luo Ge Sun Enkai Guo Hanbing Xu Zhaohong Wang Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal study Scientific Reports |
| title | Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal study |
| title_full | Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal study |
| title_short | Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players’ match technical performance: a longitudinal study |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 on football attacking players match technical performance a longitudinal study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56678-y |
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