TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in training patterns and confidence to return to sport in United States collegiate athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Seligman, Eva
AU - Beasley, Michael A.
AU - Christino, Melissa A.
AU - Miller, Patricia E.
AU - Kobelski, Greggory
AU - Stracciolini, Andrea
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Objective: To describe the training patterns, return to sport (RTS) confidence, and perceived fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic summer 2020 and to compare training patterns and RTS readiness during COVID-19 versus during the 2019 summer in a cohort of Division III collegiate athletes. Methods: An electronic survey of varsity athletes ≥18 years at three United States Division III colleges querying athlete demographics, Modified Athletic Identity Scale (mAIMS), changes in training regimen summer 2020 vs. 2019, RTS confidence, and perceived physical fitness. Results: One hundred and ninety-two surveys were completed (19% response). Total reported summer 2020 training decreased by 4 hours/week, with increased aerobic (56% vs. 53%, p = 0.03) and decreased sport-specific training (48% vs 70%, p < 0.001). Median RTS confidence score for formal training and competition was 3 (‘neither more or less confident’) in men’s versus 2 (‘less confident’) in women’s athletes. Median fitness self-assessment for men’s athletes was 3 (‘neither more nor less physically fit’) compared to previous season versus median score of 2 (‘less physically fit) among women’s athletes (p = 0.004). For each mAIMS unit, training increased by 11 minutes/week (95% CI: 2–19 minutes; p = 0.01) and sport-specific training increased by 1.3% (95% CI: 0.5–2.2%; p = 0.003), controlling for age, sport, grade, and school. mAIMS was not associated with confidence or fitness rating. Conclusion: Collegiate athletes decreased overall training hours, particularly sport-specific training time during the COVID-19 summer compared to the prior summer. Athletic identity was related to overall and sport-specific training hours but not confidence to RTS or fitness.
AB - Objective: To describe the training patterns, return to sport (RTS) confidence, and perceived fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic summer 2020 and to compare training patterns and RTS readiness during COVID-19 versus during the 2019 summer in a cohort of Division III collegiate athletes. Methods: An electronic survey of varsity athletes ≥18 years at three United States Division III colleges querying athlete demographics, Modified Athletic Identity Scale (mAIMS), changes in training regimen summer 2020 vs. 2019, RTS confidence, and perceived physical fitness. Results: One hundred and ninety-two surveys were completed (19% response). Total reported summer 2020 training decreased by 4 hours/week, with increased aerobic (56% vs. 53%, p = 0.03) and decreased sport-specific training (48% vs 70%, p < 0.001). Median RTS confidence score for formal training and competition was 3 (‘neither more or less confident’) in men’s versus 2 (‘less confident’) in women’s athletes. Median fitness self-assessment for men’s athletes was 3 (‘neither more nor less physically fit’) compared to previous season versus median score of 2 (‘less physically fit) among women’s athletes (p = 0.004). For each mAIMS unit, training increased by 11 minutes/week (95% CI: 2–19 minutes; p = 0.01) and sport-specific training increased by 1.3% (95% CI: 0.5–2.2%; p = 0.003), controlling for age, sport, grade, and school. mAIMS was not associated with confidence or fitness rating. Conclusion: Collegiate athletes decreased overall training hours, particularly sport-specific training time during the COVID-19 summer compared to the prior summer. Athletic identity was related to overall and sport-specific training hours but not confidence to RTS or fitness.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Pandemic
KW - athletic identity
KW - collegiate athlete
KW - training
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U2 - 10.1080/00913847.2022.2046957
DO - 10.1080/00913847.2022.2046957
M3 - Article
C2 - 35209782
AN - SCOPUS:85126366113
SN - 0091-3847
VL - 51
SP - 269
EP - 274
JO - Physician and Sportsmedicine
JF - Physician and Sportsmedicine
IS - 3
ER -