Position specific physical performance and running intensity fluctuations in elite women’s football

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the physical performance of elite female football players during match play along with transient alterations in running performance following 1-and 5-min univariate peak periods. 54 elite female players from four top-level Norwegian teams were monitored for one season (n = 393 match observations), and physical performance data collected using STATSport GPS APEX. Results revealed significant differences in physical performance between the positions during full match play, particularly between wide and central players. Both full backs (FBs) and wide midfielders (WMs) covered more total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), and sprint distance (SpD) than center backs (CBs) (p < 0.05-0.001), while WMs also covered more HSRD than both central midfielders (CMs) (p < 0.01) and forwards (FWs) (p < 0.05), and more acceleration -and deceleration distance (Acc dist and Dec dist ) than both CBs and CMs (p < 0.01-0.001). A similar pattern was observed for the peak period analysis, with FBs and WMs covering more SpD in peak 1 min than CBs and CM (p < 0.001) and more SpD in peak 5-min than CBs, CMs, and FWs (p < 0.001). Irrespective of the variable analyzed, greater distances were covered during the peak 5-min period than in the next-5 and mean 5-min periods (p < 0.001). Significant (p < 0.001), but small to trivial (Cohen's D z : 0.07-0.20), decreases in distance covered were also observed for each variable following each univariate peak 5-min period. In conclusion, practitioners should account for differences in physical performance when developing training programs for female football players and be aware of transient reductions in physical performance following univariate peak 1-and 5-min periods. Specifically, the very high intensity in 1-min peak periods adds support to the principal of executing speed endurance activities during training to mirror and be prepared for the physical demands of match play.

Effects of a neuromuscular training program on physical performance and asymmetries in female soccer

“…Regarding its physiological demands, football is an intermittent sport in which an average of 150–250 short, high-intensity actions are performed during the 90 min of the game ( Mohr et al, 2003 ). The average distance covered during a match in women´s football ranges between –8,200–11,000 m among professional-level players, slightly higher in international competitions and minimally lower in collegiate players ( Winther et al, 2022 ). For an exemplary implementation of these demands, cardiorespiratory capacity is a fundamental aspect of the players’ physical condition ( Stolen et al, 2005 ).…”

The influence of age on the match-to-match variability of physical performance in women’s elite football

“…One hot topic is the degrees of variability associated with the players’ physical performances across consecutive matches. Recent studies have revealed the importance of analysing the match-to-match variability of locomotor activities (expressed by the coefficient of variation (CV) of a particular measurement) by presenting its practical utility ( Oliva-Lozano et al, 2021 ; Winther et al, 2022 ). The fluctuation of external match load throughout a season should be considered part of the nature of team sports ( Baptista et al, 2022 ), and is influenced by many contextual factors.…”

Executive summary: Elite women’s football—Performance, recovery, diet, and health

“…10 In the Panduro et al study, 9 the games were shown to be intense and impose high physical demands on all outfield players, with high aerobic loading and relevant declines in high-intensity activities toward the end of games. Similarly, Winther et al 11 discussed potential implications for planning of training contents in elite women's football, because during games, transient short peak periods with high amounts of high-intensity actions, including sprinting, accelerations, and decelerations, occur for several playing positions during match play. This means that individualized, position-specific conditioning programs, and physical preparation are warranted in elite women's football.…”