COVID-19 Lockdown: A Global Study Investigating the Effect of Athletes’ Sport Classification and Sex on Training Practices
Authors: Washif Jad Adrian , Sandbakk Øyvind , Seiler Stephen , Haugen Thomas , Farooq Abdulaziz , Quarrie Ken , Janse van Rensburg Dina C. , Krug Isabel , Verhagen Evert , Wong Del P. , Mujika Iñigo , Cortis Cristina , Haddad Monoem , Ahmadian Omid , Al Jufaili Mahmood , Al-Horani Ramzi A. , Al-Mohannadi Abdulla Saeed , Aloui Asma , Ammar Achraf , Arifi Fitim , Aziz Abdul Rashid , Batuev Mikhail , Beaven Christopher Martyn , Beneke Ralph , Bici Arben , Bishnoi Pallawi , Bogwasi Lone , Bok Daniel , Boukhris Omar , Boullosa Daniel , Bragazzi Nicola , Brito Joao , Palacios Cartagena Roxana Paola , Chaouachi Anis , Cheung Stephen S. , Chtourou Hamdi , Cosma Germina , Debevec Tadej , DeLang Matthew D. , Dellal Alexandre , Dönmez Gürhan , Driss Tarak , Peña Duque Juan David , Eirale Cristiano , Elloumi Mohamed , Foster Carl , Franchini Emerson , Fusco Andrea , Galy Olivier , Gastin Paul B. , Gill Nicholas , Girard Olivier , Gregov Cvita , Halson Shona , Hammouda Omar , Hanzlíková Ivana , Hassanmirzaei Bahar , Hébert-Losier Kim , Muñoz Helú Hussein , Herrera-Valenzuela Tomás , Hettinga Florentina J. , Holtzhausen Louis , Hue Olivier , Dello Iacono Antonio , Ihalainen Johanna K. , James Carl , Joseph Saju , Kamoun Karim , Khaled Mehdi , Khalladi Karim , Kim Kwang Joon , Kok Lian-Yee , MacMillan Lewis , Mataruna-Dos-Santos Leonardo Jose , Matsunaga Ryo , Memishi Shpresa , Millet Grégoire P. , Moussa-Chamari Imen , Musa Danladi Ibrahim , Nguyen Hoang Minh Thuan , Nikolaidis Pantelis T. , Owen Adam , Padulo Johnny , Pagaduan Jeffrey Cabayan , Perera Nirmala Panagodage , Pérez-Gómez Jorge , Pillay Lervasen , Popa Arporn , Pudasaini Avishkar , Rabbani Alizera , Rahayu Tandiyo , Romdhani Mohamed , Salamh Paul , Sarkar Abu-Sufian , Schillinger Andy , Setyawati Heny , Shrestha Navina , Suraya Fatona , Tabben Montassar , Trabelsi Khaled , Urhausen Axel , Valtonen Maarit , Weber Johanna , Whiteley Rodney , Zrane Adel , Zerguini Yacine , Zmijewski Piotr , Ben Saad Helmi , Pyne David B. , Taylor Lee , Chamari Karim 
Published: July 2022

Purpose: To investigate differences in athletes’ knowledge, beliefs, and training practices during COVID-19 lockdowns with reference to sport classification and sex. This work extends an initial descriptive evaluation focusing on athlete classification. Methods: Athletes (12,526; 66% male; 142 countries) completed an online survey (May–July 2020) assessing knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward training. Sports were classified as team sports (45%), endurance (20%), power/technical (10%), combat (9%), aquatic (6%), recreational (4%), racquet (3%), precision (2%), parasports (1%), and others (1%). Further analysis by sex was performed. Results: During lockdown, athletes practiced body-weight-based exercises routinely (67% females and 64% males), ranging from 50% (precision) to 78% (parasports). More sport-specific technical skills were performed in combat, parasports, and precision (∼50%) than other sports (∼35%). Most athletes (range: 50% [parasports] to 75% [endurance]) performed cardiorespiratory training (trivial sex differences). Compared to prelockdown, perceived training intensity was reduced by 29% to 41%, depending on sport (largest decline: ∼38% in team sports, unaffected by sex). Some athletes (range: 7%–49%) maintained their training intensity for strength, endurance, speed, plyometric, change-of-direction, and technical training. Athletes who previously trained ≥5 sessions per week reduced their volume (range: 18%–28%) during lockdown. The proportion of athletes (81%) training ≥60 min/session reduced by 31% to 43% during lockdown. Males and females had comparable moderate levels of training knowledge (56% vs 58%) and beliefs/attitudes (54% vs 56%). Conclusions: Changes in athletes’ training practices were sport-specific, with few or no sex differences. Team-based sports were generally more susceptible to changes than individual sports. Policy makers should provide athletes with specific training arrangements and educational resources to facilitate remote and/or home-based training during lockdown-type events.