Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic-Induced Break on Team Performances in European Football Leagues

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the team performances in football leagues during the 2019-2020 season. A total of 2982 matches from Italy's Serie A (760 matches), Germany's Bundesliga (612 matches), England's Premier League (760 matches), and Spain's La Liga (760 matches) were evaluated, considering the period before and after the COVID-19 interruption. Match data was obtained from websites such as www.transfermarkt.com and www.statsperform.com/opta/. Performance indicators, including the number of shots, on-target shots, successful pass percentage, successful pass count, and corner kicks, were compared across leagues before and after the pandemic. Dependent samples t-tests were employed for data analysis. The findings indicate a decrease in the average number of shots, on-target shots, and corner statistics across all leagues, while passing and successful passing statistics have shown an increase. In the case of the English Premier League, there was a statistically significant decrease in the average number of shots after the interruption (t=2.373, p=0.028). However, no statistically significant difference was found in on-target shots, passing, successful passing, and corner kick averages for EPL teams (p>0.05). Bundesliga teams also experienced a statistically significant decrease in shot averages after the pandemic (t=2.417, p=0.028). Similarly, there was a statistically significant difference in on-target shot averages for Bundesliga teams before and after COVID-19 (t=2.497, p=0.023). La Liga teams exhibited a significant change in successful pass rates (t=-3.470, p=0.003). However, there was no statistically significant difference in successful pass counts and corner kick averages for La Liga teams before and after COVID-19 (p>0.05). According to the study's results, after the pandemic interruption, shot averages decreased in all leagues, except Serie A, on-target shot averages decreased in all leagues, corner kick averages decreased in all leagues, and passing and successful passing rates increased across all leagues.

Keywords

• Football
• Covid-19
• Performans
• Technical-Tactical Performance

Covid-19 Pandemisi Nedeniyle Avrupa Futbol Liglerinde Verilen Aranın Takım Performanslarına Etkilerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma Covid-19 pandemisi nedeniyle futbol liglerine 2019-2020 sezonunda verilen aranın takım performanslarına etkisinin incelenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışmada 2019-2020 sezonunda oynanan İtalya Serie A’dan 760, Almanya Bundesliga’dan 612, İngiltere Premier Lig’den 760 ve İspanya La Liga liginden 760 olmak üzere toplam 2982 müsabaka Covid-19 nedeniyle verilen ara öncesi ve sonrası ele alınarak değerlendirilmiştir. Müsabakalara ait veriler www.transfermarkt.com, www.statsperform.com/opta/ websitelerinden elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler Şut sayısı, İsabetli Şut sayısı, Başarılı Pas Yüzdesi, Başarılı Pas Sayısı ve Korner sayısı gibi performans göstergelerinin ara öncesi ve sonrasına göre liglere göre karşılaştırılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde bağımlı örneklemler t testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgulara göre tüm liglerde takımların ortalama şut, isabetli şut, korner istatistikleri düşüş, pas ve isabetli pas istatistikleri ise yükseliş göstermiştir. Bulgular: İngiltere Premier Lig takımlarının şut ortalamaları ara sonrasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı şekilde düşmüştür (t=2,373, p=0,028). EPL takımlarının isabetli şut, pas, başarılı pas ve korner ortalamalarında ise Covid-19 öncesi ve sonrası arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmemiştir (p>0,05). Bundesliga takımlarının şut ortalamaları ara sonrasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı şekilde düşmüştür (t=2,417, p=0,028). Aynı şekilde Bundesliga takımlarının isabetli şut ortalamaları da Covid-19 öncesi ve sonrası arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık göstermiştir (t=2,497, p=0,023). La Liga takımlarının başarılı pas oranı anlamlı olarak farklıdır (t=-3,470, p=0,003). La Liga takımlarının başarılı pas sayısı ve korner ortalamaları için Covid-19 öncesi ve sonrası arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmemiştir (p>0,05). Sonuç: Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre, ara sonrası dönemde şut ortalamalarının tüm liglerde düştüğü, isabetli şut ortalamasının Serie A hariç diğer liglerde düştüğü, korner ortalamalarının tüm liglerde düştüğü, pas ve isabetli pas oranlarının ise tüm liglerde arttığı görülmüştür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Futbol
• Covid-19
• Performans
• Teknik-Taktik Performans

Kaynakça

1. 1. Q. Li et al., “Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus–infected pneumonia,” New England journal of medicine, vol. 382, no. 13, pp. 1199–1207, 2020.
2. 2. “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), 12 October 2020.” World Health Organization, 2020.
3. 3. C. Chen, C. B. Frey, and G. Presidente, “Culture and contagion: Individualism and compliance with COVID-19 policy,” Journal of economic behavior & organization, vol. 190, pp. 191–200, 2021.
4. 4. A. Cheshmehzangi, “10 adaptive measures for public places to face the COVID 19 pandemic outbreak,” City & Society (Washington, DC), vol. 32, no. 2, 2020.
5. 5. G. Elcheroth and J. Drury, “Collective resilience in times of crisis: Lessons from the literature for socially effective responses to the pandemic,” British Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 59, no. 3, pp. 703–713, 2020.
6. 6. B. G. King and E. J. Carberry, “Movements, societal crisis, and organizational theory,” Journal of Management Studies, vol. 57, no. 8, pp. 1741–1745, 2020.
7. 7. T. Horky, “No sports, no spectators–no media, no money? The importance of spectators and broadcasting for professional sports during COVID-19,” Soccer & Society, vol. 22, no. 1–2, pp. 96–102, 2021.
8. 8. A. Rankin and N. Heron, “Infographic. Managing a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case: a guide for sports,” British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 55, no. 8, pp. 456–457, 2021.

9. 9. M. Scerri and V. Grech, “Discussion: COVID-19’s impact on sports and athletes,” German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 390–393, 2021.
10. 10. C. Castagna, M. Bizzini, A. P. Leguizamon, A. Pizzi, R. Torquati, and S. Póvoas, “Considerations and best practices for elite football officials return to play after COVID-19 confinement,” Managing Sport and Leisure, vol. 27, no. 1–2, pp. 181–188, 2022.
11. 11. A. Corsini, G. N. Bisciotti, C. Eirale, and P. Volpi, Football cannot restart soon during the COVID-19 emergency! A critical perspective from the Italian experience and a call for action, vol. 54, no. 20. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, 2020, pp. 1186–1187.
12. 12. D. Link and G. Anzer, “How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the game of soccer,” International journal of sports medicine, vol. 43, no. 01, pp. 83–93, 2022.
13. 13. J. Reade and C. Singleton, “European football after COVID-19,” 2020.
14. 14. M. G. Donadu, A. R. Pizzi, and P. Zeppilli, “COVID-19, indications for professional football teams and referees training resumption,” The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, vol. 14, no. 10, pp. 1084–1089, 2020.
15. 15. M. Rico-González, J. Pino-Ortega, and L. P. Ardigò, “Playing non-professional football in COVID-19 time: a narrative review of recommendations, considerations, and best practices,” International journal of environmental research and public health, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 568, 2021.
16. 16. M. Rohde and C. Breuer, “Europe’s elite football: Financial growth, sporting success, transfer investment, and private majority investors,” International Journal of Financial Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, p. 12, 2016.
17. 17. M. Mohr et al., “Return to elite football after the COVID-19 lockdown,” Managing Sport and Leisure, vol. 27, no. 1–2, pp. 172–180, 2022.
18. 18. C. Castagna, M. Bizzini, A. P. Leguizamon, A. Pizzi, R. Torquati, and S. Póvoas, “Considerations and best practices for elite football officials return to play after COVID-19 confinement,” Managing Sport and Leisure, vol. 27, no. 1–2, pp. 181–188, 2022.
19. 19. A. Metelski and K. Kornakov, “Effect of lockdown owing to COVID-19 on players’ match statistics in bundesliga,” Journal of Physical Education and Sport, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 110–114, 2021.
20. 20. M. C. Cholewinski, J. A. Buzzard, Q. Gordon, R. N. Ross, L. K. Funderburk, and A. Galucci, “Changes in Body Composition and Activity Levels of a Division-1 Football Team During COVID-19,” Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, vol. 4, no. 1, 2021.
21. 21. J. McKenna, S. H. Backhouse, G. Phillips, and B. Jones, “Changing player behaviour in sport during the COVID-19 pandemic: Shake on it?,” South African Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 1–2, 2020.
22. 22. G. Souter, A. Tonge, and A. Culvin, “The impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of professional footballers,” Managing Sport and Leisure, vol. 27, no. 1–2, pp. 168–171, 2022.
23. 23. S. Sun, S. X. Zhang, A. A. Jahanshahi, and M. Jahanshahi, “Drilling under the COVID‐19 pandemic: A diary study of professional football players’ mental health and workout performance,” Stress and Health, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 3–18, 2022.
24. 24. A. Y.-Y. Wong et al., “Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports and exercise,” Asia-Pacific journal of sports medicine, arthroscopy, rehabilitation and technology, vol. 22, pp. 39–44, 2020.
25. 25. G. Cerulli et al., “Aspects of Biomechanics,” Football Traumatology: Current Concepts: from Prevention to Treatment, pp. 11–21, 2006.
26. 26. J. Kokstejn, M. Musalek, P. Wolanski, E. Murawska-Cialowicz, and P. Stastny, “Fundamental motor skills mediate the relationship between physical fitness and soccer-specific motor skills in young soccer players,” Frontiers in physiology, vol. 10, p. 596, 2019.
27. 27. A. Lees, “Biomechanics applied to soccer skills,” Science and Soccer: Developing Elite Performers Oxon: Routledge, 2013.
28. 28. R. S. Wilson et al., “Skill not athleticism predicts individual variation in match performance of soccer players,” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 284, no. 1868, p. 20170953, 2017.
29. 29. R. Buryta, “Significance of controlling the intensity of various types of effort in football,” Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine, vol. 2, pp. 3–8, 2013.
30. 30. H. Forsman, M. Blomqvist, K. Davids, J. Liukkonen, and N. Konttinen, “Identifying technical, physiological, tactical and psychological characteristics that contribute to career progression in soccer,” International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 505–513, 2016.
31. 31. J. M. Fernandez-Crehuet, J. Rosales-Salas, and P. Navarro, “A performance index of football teams: The Spanish case,” Sport in Society, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 131–146, 2021.
32. 32. T. A. Gilson, “Psychology of Training Football Players: Improved Performance and Success,” Strength & Conditioning Journal, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 102–108, 2015.
33. 33. H. Lepschy, H. Wäsche, and A. Woll, “How to be successful in football: a systematic review,” The open sports sciences journal, vol. 11, no. 1, 2018.
34. 34. S. V. Hill-Haas, B. Dawson, F. M. Impellizzeri, and A. J. Coutts, “Physiology of small-sided games training in football: a systematic review,” Sports medicine, vol. 41, pp. 199–220, 2011.
35. 35. F. M. Iaia, R. Ermanno, and J. Bangsbo, “High-intensity training in football,” International journal of sports physiology and performance, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 291–306, 2009.
36. 36. D. O’Connor, P. Larkin, and A. M. Williams, “Observations of youth football training: How do coaches structure training sessions for player development?,” Journal of sports sciences, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 39–47, 2018.
37. 37. N. Karasar, Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri. Ankara: Nobel yayın dağıtım, 2005.
38. 38. G. A. Bowen, “Document analysis as a qualitative research method,” Qualitative research journal, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 27–40, 2009.
39. 39. A. Yıldırım and H. Şimşek, “Sosyal bilimlerde bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri (9. Bas.),” Seçkin Yayıncılık: Ankara, 2013.
40. 40. 40 D. Ekiz, Bilimsel Araştırma Yöntemleri [Scientific research methods]. Ankara, Turkey. Anı Publishing, 2015.
41. 41. S. Kalayci, “SPSS uygulamali cok degiskenli istatistik teknikleri (5. Baski),” Ankara: Asil Yayin Dagitim, 2010.
42. 42. O. Çoban, E. Baykan, O. Gürkan, and M. Yildirim, “The Analysis of Football Players’ Percentages of Shot on Target and Levels of Self-Confidence in Different Leagues.,” African Educational Research Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 586–596, 2020.
43. 43. J. Gonzalez-Rodenas, M. Mitrotasios, R. Aranda, and V. Armatas, “Combined effects of tactical, technical and contextual factors on shooting effectiveness in European professional soccer,” International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 280–293, 2020.
44. 44. C. Papahristodoulou, “An analysis of UEFA Champions League match statistics,” 2008.
45. 45. B. Travassos, B. Gonçalves, R. Marcelino, R. Monteiro, and J. Sampaio, “How perceiving additional targets modifies teams’ tactical behavior during football small-sided games,” Human movement science, vol. 38, pp. 241–250, 2014.
46. 46. C. Zhou, W. G. Hopkins, W. Mao, A. L. Calvo, and H. Liu, “Match performance of soccer teams in the Chinese super league—effects of situational and environmental factors,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 16, no. 21, p. 4238, 2019.
47. 47. H. Lepschy, H. Wäsche, and A. Woll, “How to be successful in football: a systematic review,” The open sports sciences journal, vol. 11, no. 1, 2018.
48. 48. E. Schulze et al., “Effects of positional variables on shooting outcome in elite football,” Science and Medicine in Football, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 93–100, 2018.
49. 49. S. M. Smith and J. R. Bedwell, “Euro 2020 goal analysis: an ecological dynamics approach for football shooting practice,” Journal of Physical Education and Sport, vol. 21, no. 6, pp. 3319–3325, 2021.
50. 50. G. Wood and M. R. Wilson, “Gaze behaviour and shooting strategies in football penalty kicks: Implications of a" keeper-dependent" approach,” International journal of sport psychology, vol. 41, no. 3, p. 293, 2010.
51. 51. K. Parpa and M. Michaelides, “The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on professional soccer players’ body composition and physical fitness.,” Biology of Sport, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 733–740, 2021.
52. 52. E. Rampinini, F. Donghi, M. Martin, A. Bosio, M. Riggio, and N. A. Maffiuletti, “Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on Serie A soccer players’ physical qualities,” International Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 42, no. 10, pp. 917–923, 2021.
53. 53. N. Caldeira, R. J. Lopes, D. Fernandes, and D. Araújo, “The Finishing Space Value for shooting decision-making in High-Performance Football,” Functional space-time properties of team synergies in high-performance football, p. 130, 2023.
54. 54. L. Ellis and P. Ward, “The effect of a high-pressure protocol on penalty shooting performance, psychological, and psychophysiological response in professional football: A mixed methods study,” Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 3–15, 2022.
55. 55. A. Trecroci, G. Boccolini, M. Duca, D. Formenti, and G. Alberti, “Mental fatigue impairs physical activity, technical and decision-making performance during small-sided games,” PLoS One, vol. 15, no. 9, p. e0238461, 2020.
56. 56. S. M. Sayyd, Z. A. Zainuddin, and P. M. Seraj, “A scientific overview of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sports affairs: A systematic review,” Physical education of students, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 221–229, 2021.
57. 57. O. Tütüncü, “Futbolda duran topların artan rolü, iyi orta gol getirir (mi?),” Ege Üniversitesi, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11454/75017