Tennis home-training during first Italy lockdown COVID-19: A pilot study in young athletes

COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an Italy national lockdown between 9 March and 3 May 2020, limiting the ability of individuals to exercise/training outdoors. The aim of this study was based on the construction of remote-personalized-training protocols in tennis and examined the effects of a home-based intervention. Sixteen young athletes, divided into four groups in accord with the level of play and the pre-existing technical-tactical preparation, were trained by tennis-coach using simple equipment (i.e., balance board, medicine ball, steps). Physiological parameters (HR, SaO2), the ability to execute technical gestures in conditions of stress/fatigue, development of adaptation and motor reaction skills, as well as eye-manual coordination; execution of movements at high speeds and precision, prevention of muscle and joint injuries, were monitoring. A questionnaire able to evaluate the subjective perception was administered. Athletes have demonstrated, by means of this latter, the beneficial effects of home-training during the lockdown. Concluding, the remote home-training, offered to athletes one option to maintain “normal” training practices, in view of a return to the tennis court. Furthermore, at today, in post-pandemic environments and behaviors, the results suggest that remote home-training intervention may help foster meaningful improvements in young athletes, strengthening intrinsic/subjective motivation.