How Brazilian football teams coped with remotely/online strength and conditioning training

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the communication/training strategies and technological tools used by fitness coaches from Brazilian football teams during home-based training according to age categories (professional and youth), competitive level (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd/4^th divisions) and sex (male and female). An online questionnaire was applied to collect data. Eighty-two fitness coaches from sixty-seven male and female football teams (professional and youth teams) answered the questionnaire. Message apps were the main communication route between fitness coaches and players during home-based training. Online spreadsheets were frequently used to control the training. Regarding equipment provided to players for training, 70.7% of male professional players used some equipment. In contrast, most female professional and youth players (both sexes) did not receive any equipment, respectively (p< 0.01). Male players who compete in the 1^st and 2^nd divisions received more equipment for training than those who compete in the 3^rd and 4^th divisions (p< 0.01). The main physical fitness variables trained by all players during home-based training were muscle strength, strength-endurance, and aerobic capacity. Training load and training response were applied through series/repetitions/time and effort perception scales, respectively. In conclusion, the financial differences between professional and youth teams and between males and females and competitive levels can induce different home-based training conditions in Brazilian football teams during lockdown-like situations, especially related to equipment available for training targeted physical qualities. Thus, players should be monitored closely during lockdown-like situations and provided appropriate support to facilitate their training.