This study examined the effects of home confinement on physical activity (PA) and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 outbreak in Qatar. A total of 1144 subjects participated (male: n = 588; female: n = 556; age: 33.1 ± 11.1 years; mass: 76.1 ± 16.4 kg; height: 1.70 ± 0.11 m; body mass index (BMI): 26.1 ± 4.44 kg/m²). Online survey questions considered “before” and “during” confinement. Confinement reduced all PA intensities (η_p² = 0.27–0.67, p < 0.001) and increased daily sitting time from 3.57 ± 1.47 to 6.32 ± 1.33 h per weekday (η_p² = 0.67, p < 0.001). The largest reduction was detected for the sum parameter all physical activity (minutes per week, η_p² = 0.67, p < 0.001; MET (metabolic equivalent of task)-minutes/week, η_p² = 0.69, p < 0.001). Life satisfaction decreased, with the score for “I am satisfied with my life” (η_p² = 0.76, p < 0.001) decreasing from 28.1 ± 4.81 to 14.2 ± 6.41 arbitrary units (AU). Concerning life satisfaction, the largest change was detected for the statement “the conditions of my life are excellent” (d_male = 7.93). For all parameters, time effects were indicative of large negative effects in both genders. In terms of magnitude, the difference between gender was greatest for the parameter “the conditions of my life are excellent” (difference between groups, d = 4.84). In conclusion, COVID-19 confinement decreased PA, increased sitting time, and decreased life satisfaction in Qatar. These precautionary findings explicate the risk of psychosocial impairment and the potential physical harm of reducing physical activity during early COVID-19 confinement in 2020.

Background Team handball is an intense sport with special requirements on technical and tactical skills as well as physical performance. The ability of handball players to make repeated powerful muscular contractions in pushing and throwing the ball is crucial to success. Objective This study investigated the effects of elastic band training on upper body peak power output, ball throwing velocity, and local muscle volume of junior handball players. Materials and Methods Thirty handball players (a single national-level Tunisian team) were randomly assigned to a control group (CG; n = 15) and an experimental group (EG; n = 15). Pre- and post-interventional measurements included force-velocity tests, one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and pull-over strength, ball throwing velocity in three types of throw (jumping shot, 3-step running throw, and standing throw), and anthropometric estimates of limb volumes. The EG additionally performed an elastic band training programme twice a week for 8 weeks immediately before engaging in regular handball training. The control group underwent no additional elastic band training. Results The EG demonstrated greater improvements in absolute and relative peak power (p < 0.001; 49.3 ± 22.9 % and 47.9 ± 24.6 %, respectively), 1RM strength (p < 0.001; 25.3 ± 2.2 % and 44.1 ± 9.0 % for 1RM bench press and pull over, respectively), and throwing velocity in all three types of ball throws (p < 0.001; 25.1–26.1 %), compared to the CG (3.9–4.4 %). Limb volumes increased significantly (p = 0.001, 8.0 ± 7.5 %) in the EG, with no significant change (p = 0.175, 2.6 ± 7.0 %) in the CG. Conclusions We conclude that additional elastic band training performed twice a week for 8 weeks improves measures relevant to game performance, particularly strength, power, and ball throwing velocity.

Background Team handball is an intense ball sport with specific requirements on technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical performance. The ability of handball players to develop explosive efforts (e. g. sprinting, jumping, changing direction) is crucial to success. Objective The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of an in-season high-intensity strength training program on the physical performance of elite handball players. Materials and methods Twenty-two handball players (a single national-level Tunisian team) were randomly assigned to a control group (CG; n = 10) or a training group (TG; n = 12). At the beginning of the pilot study, all subjects performed a battery of motor tests: one repetition maximum (1-RM) half-squat test, a repeated sprint test [6 × (2 × 15 m) shuttle sprints], squat jumps, counter movement jumps (CMJ), and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1. The TG additionally performed a maximal leg strength program twice a week for 10 weeks immediately before engaging in regular handball training. Each strength training session included half-squat exercises to strengthen the lower limbs (80 – 95 % of 1-RM, 1 – 3 repetitions, 3 – 6 sets, 3 – 4 min rest between sets). The control group underwent no additional strength training. The motor test battery was repeated at the end of the study interventions. Results In the TG, 3 parameters (maximal strength of lower limb: η² = 0.74; CMJ: η² = 0.70, and RSA best time: η² = 0.25) showed significant improvements, with large effect sizes (e. g. CMJ: d = 3.77). A reduction in performance for these same 3 parameters was observed in the CG (d = -0.24). Conclusions The results support our hypothesis that additional strength training twice a week enhances the maximal strength of the lower limbs and jumping or repeated sprinting performance. There was no evidence of shuttle sprints ahead of regular training compromising players’ speed and endurance capacities.

This study examined the effects of 8 weeks of twice-weekly combined plyometric and sprint with change-of-direction (CPSCoD) training into habitual training regimes of young male soccer players. Participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 17, age: 14.6 ± 0.44 years, body mass: 61.2 ± 7.34 kg, height: 1.67 ± 0.09 m, body fat: 11.2 ± 1.56%) and a control group (n = 16, age: 14.6 ± 0.39 years, body mass: 61.1 ± 3.96 kg, height: 1.67 ± 0.05 m, body fat: 11.8 ± 1.47%). Measures obtained pre- and post intervention included vertical and horizontal jump performance (i.e., squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and standing long jump (SLJ)), and sprint performance (i.e., 5 m and 20 m sprint). In addition, Measures obtained pre- and post-intervention included change-of-direction ability (4 × 5 m sprint test (S 4 × 5 m) and sprint 9–3–6–3–9 m with backward and forward running (SBF)), repeated change of direction (RCoD), and static balance performance (stork balance test). The training group experienced superior jump (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.61), sprint (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.58), change-of-direction (CoD) ability (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.58), RCoD (all parameters except the fatigue index p < 0.01; effect size (d) ≥ 0.71), and static balance (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.66) improvement. Adding twice-weekly CPSCoD training to standard training improves the anaerobic performance of U15 male soccer players.

This project investigated effects of 8 weeks of biweekly loaded combined plyometric and short sprint with change-of-direction training an in-season regimen of young soccer players. An experimental (n = 17, age: 16.5 ± 0.5 years, body mass: 64.5 ± 5.2 kg, height: 1.73 ± 0.07 m,) and control group (n = 17, age: 16.7 ± 0.5 years, body mass: 65.6 ± 4.8 kg, height: 1.74 ± 0.07 m) were tested pre- and post-intervention for squat-jump (SJ), countermovement-jump (CMJ), and five-jump test (5JT), 10 m and 30 m sprint performance, change-of-direction ability, and dynamic balance performance. The experimental group (EG) outperformed the control group (CG) over 8 weeks in jumping (p < 0.001; d = 0.98–1.17), 10 m sprinting (p < 0.001; d = 0.94), change-of-direction ability (p < 0.001; d = 1.24), and dynamic balance performance (p < 0.001; d = 0.53–0.74). We conclude that adding biweekly loaded plyometric with short sprints and change-of-direction training to habitual training improves athleticism of young soccer players. Therefore, loaded plyometric with short sprints and change-of-direction training should be implemented as a part of research-informed soccer training.

This project investigated the effect of adding 8 weeks of bi-weekly plyometric and short sprint with change-of-direction (PSSCoD) training into standard training for elite youth soccer players from Tunisia. A training group (n = 18; age: 16.6 ± 0.5 years; body mass: 63.2 ± 4.8 kg; stature: 1.73 ± 0.07 m; body fat: 11.2 ± 1.7%), and control group (n = 16; age: 16.6 ± 0.5 years; body mass: 63.6 ± 4.3 kg; height: 1.73 ± 0.06 m; body fat: 11.6 ± 1.5%) participated. The pre- and post-intervention measures were squat-jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), standing long jump (SLJ), 5 m and 20 m sprint, change-of-direction ability (4 × 5 m sprint test (S 4 × 5 m)), repeated sprint ability (RSA), and static balance (stork balance test). The training group displayed superior jump (all p < 0.05; d > 0.49), sprint (p < 0.05; d > 0.52), change-of-direction ability (p < 0.01; d = 0.78), RSA (p < 0.01; d > 0.70), and static balance (p < 0.05; d > 0.49) improvements. Adding bi-weekly PSSCoD improves the athletic performance of young soccer players.