Multidimensional Effects of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Youth Athletes: Evidence from Slovenian Coaches

Saša Pišot Orcid logo ,
Saša Pišot
Contact Saša Pišot

Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre Koper , Koper , Slovenia

Ivana M. Milovanović Orcid logo ,
Ivana M. Milovanović

Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad , Novi Sad , Serbia

Kaja Teraž Orcid logo
Kaja Teraž

Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre Koper , Koper , Slovenia

Editor: Danilo Radanović

Published: 17.12.2025.

Volume 18, Issue 1 (2026)

https://doi.org/10.31382/20260602

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in early 2020, caused widespread disruptions to youth sport, including curriculum-based physical activity, organized sports, and active transportation. This study investigated the impact of repeated lockdowns on organized youth sport participation, physical fitness, skill development, and psychosocial well-being in Slovenia. An online survey was conducted between November and December 2021 with 116 coaches of U13–U19 athletes across multiple sports disciplines. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric analyses were employed to examine participation trends, training adaptations, and perceived athlete outcomes. Following the first lockdown, 14.6% of athletes dropped out, while 6.5% of teams reported increased membership. After the summer break, participation rebounded, and the second lockdown had a smaller impact, indicating partial resilience in youth sport engagement. Training frequency and modality were substantially affected, with 20% of coaches not implementing remote sessions and fewer than half conducting post-lockdown fitness assessments. Coaches reported declines in general physical fitness (71%) and sport-specific skills (70%), heterogeneous changes in body mass, and reduced self-confidence and motivation in over 50% of athletes, whereas team spirit remained relatively stable. A significant association between perceived changes in body mass and motivation highlighted the role of physical self-concept in supporting engagement. These findings demonstrate that prolonged interruptions to organized youth sport have multidimensional effects on physical, technical, and psychosocial development. Future research should explore long-term consequences, identify effective mitigation strategies, and consider sport-specific, age, and gender-related factors to enhance resilience in youth sports systems under exceptional circumstances.

Keywords

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Funding Statement

The implementation of this research was made possible through the co-funding of bilateral research cooperation by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (BI-RS/23-25-010) and the Serbian Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, for the period 2023–2025.

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