COVID-19: Internal and External Impact on Athletes

Dear Colleagues,

It has been nearly a year since COVID-19 changed everyday life as we know it. People have committed to slowing down the virus through staying home, socially distancing, and vaccinations. However, the COVID 19 pandemic has clearly influenced all worldwide sporting events and training in amateur and professional sport leagues. Moreover, this global pandemic has greatly damaged the world of professional sports. During confinement periods, it is problematic for athletes to perform their practice with teammates under the direction of their coaches and scientific experts. In addition, the majority of these athletes will remain under confinement if COVID-19 regulations are further extended into 2021. Many athletes are forced to be away from proper training opportunities and organized practice conditions with restricted communication with respected coaches. During this difficult socially isolated training period, all athletes must very carefully monitor their own safety, maintaining a strong physical and mental condition such that they are ready for regular training within their clubs in the near future. Under these circumstances, several coaches and researchers have proposed home training regimens and programs to maintain the physical condition of the general population via new media technologies, such as social media. This has made such practices easy and secure for all elite and non-elite athletes. Therefore, one of the main objectives of this Special Issue centered on COVID-19 will be determining the internal and external impact on athletes through understanding the importance of physiological effects related to detraining associated with COVID-19 limitations as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different types of training load and nutrition with detraining regarding the health and wellbeing of athletes. In this context, this Special Issue aims to present new and innovative ideas and approaches for scientists and (athletic) coaches.

Dr. Souhail Hermassi
Prof. Dr. René Schwesig
Guest Editors

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