Pre-season body composition has minimal influence on in-season match availability, and match performance in female Australian Football League (AFLW) players

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between pre-season body composition, in-season match performance, and match availability in female players competing in the Australian Football League Women's (AFLW) competition. With the outlawing of body composition assessments as part of pre-draft player evaluations in the AFLW, this study seeks to examine whether this is justified. Twenty-two (n = 22) players had body composition assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the beginning of the 2021 AFLW pre-season (whole-body and regional fat mass and lean soft-tissue mass [LSTM]). In-season match availability and match performance data (Coaches Score [CS], Champion Data Player Rank, average disposals, disposal and kicking efficiency) were collected throughout the 2021 competition. Pearson correlations were performed to assess if associations existed between body composition and in-season match performance and availability. A median split was performed to divide players into higher and lower performing groups for match performance variables. Two-sample independent t-tests were then used to assess differences between groups. No body composition characteristics could differentiate between in-season match availability groups (100% availability vs. <100% availability) or higher and lower performing groups for all match performance variables. Total leg LSTM asymmetry shared a moderate negative association with CS. Body composition may not be important for determining in-season match availability and performance in female AFLW players. Thus, the repercussions following the removal of pre-draft body composition assessments across the league may not be as significant as is currently perceived. Other physiological, biomechanical, or performance qualities are more variable and may mask the effect of body composition in these players. AFLW practitioners should prioritize the development of other important attributes, such as aerobic fitness, muscular strength and power, and technical skill.

Relationships between physical fitness characteristics, technical skill attributes, and sports injury in female Australian football players

“…Thus, decreased body fat percentage may enhance a developing kicker’s ability to coordinate their limbs by achieving better positioning on their stance leg and movement of the swing leg during the kicking action. Conversely, one study in elite senior female AF players (AFLW) reported no significant differences for body composition characteristics and kicking efficiency [ 54 ]. This may be explained by biological maturation influences on kinanthropometric variables and physical fitness attributes in young athletes, with early maturation often demonstrating higher kinanthropometric values and better physical fitness performance results [ 55 ].…”

Fat-Free Mass Index in a Large Sample of National Collegiate Athletic Association Men and Women Athletes From a Variety of Sports

“…The assessment of body composition, specifically fat-free mass (FFM), in athletes is an important component of optimizing health, well-being, and sport performance (12). Higher levels of FFM and lower relative fat mass (FM) have been shown to be associated with physical attributes relating to sport performance (8) (i.e., strength, speed, power) (27,29,33) and a reduced risk of injury (4,28); therefore, FFM accrual is often a primary goal for athletes engaged in strength and conditioning programs for their respective sport (2,13,29). Although FFM is considered an important parameter of sport performance, absolute measures of FFM do not account for differences in height and body stature, making direct comparisons across sports and sport positions challenging.…”

“…Several years later, this method was used to identify potential anabolic-androgenic steroid use in resistance-trained men and to determine a potential natural upper limit of FFM accrual, relative to height (22). More recently, FFMI has been used to characterize FFM among athletes and to establish normative values in men and women athletes across a variety of sports and sport divisions (5,10,14,28). For example, previous work has noted average FFMI values of 18.73-24.94 kg•m 22 (9,14) across a range of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division (D) II and DIII men athletes and values of 15.3-20.09 kg•m 22 (7,9,19) among diverse samples of DI, DII, and DIII women athletes.…”