Relationships between Linear Speed and Lower-Body Power with Change-of-Direction Speed in National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I and II Women Soccer Athletes

Abstract

This study investigated relationships that linear speed and lower-body power have on change-of-direction (COD) speed in collegiate women soccer players. Data from two Division I (n = 39) and one Division II (n = 18) schools were analyzed. Subjects were assessed in: power (vertical jump (VJ); jump height, peak anaerobic power measured in watts (PAPw), power-to-body mass ratio (P:BM); linear speed (10-m sprint); and COD speed (modified T-test (MTT), 505, COD deficit). Independent samples T-tests derived significant between-group differences, with effect sizes (d) calculated. Pearson’s correlations determined relationships between COD speed, linear speed, and power, with regression equations calculated. Division I players demonstrated superior 505, COD deficit, VJ height, PAPw, and P:BM (d = 1.09–2.21). Division II players were faster in the MTT (d = 1.51). For all players, the 505 correlated with the 10-m sprint (r = 0.39–0.53) and VJ height (r = −0.65–0.66), while the COD deficit related to the 10-m sprint (r = −0.77–0.82). The regression data supported these results. Division I players were superior in the 505 and COD deficit, and expressed their power in the 180° 505 task. Division II players should enhance lower-body power and the ability to perform 180° direction changes.

Assessing Change of Direction Ability in a Spanish Elite Soccer Academy

“…Bearing in mind the age span of the Journal of Human Kinetics -volume 72/2020 http://www.johk.pl groups of our study, and despite the important variations in body dimensions, no significant effect of body height was detected, in contrast to Chaouachi et al (2012): body mass had significant effects (p < 0.05) for MATtop and MATfree, but not for the T-Test in Tunisian National Soccer League 1. Interestingly, while the CMJ and a quintuple horizontal jump test did not contribute to the T-Test performance for senior soccer players (Chaouachi et al, 2012), and no significant regreession equation could be found for NCAA woman Division I and II soccer players on the MATtop after considering, among others, vertical jumping as a factor (Lockie et al, 2018), the explanatory jumping factor varied from MATfree to MATtop in this study. That is, the primacy of a more open drill (i.e., ACMJ) for the freedisplacement test and a closer drill (i.e., CMJ) for the constrained-displacement test can indicate the existence of slightly different CODA profiles, as far as lower limbs are concerned.…”

Can Monitoring Training Load Deter Performance Drop-off During Off-season Training in Division III American Football Players?

“…These data are supported by previous research where the greatest improvements in COD agility, indicated by 18.3-meter shuttle sprint, were noted to occur in the first year of training across all positional groups (Stodden & Galitski, 2010). Previous research has indicated that increases in concentric, eccentric, and isometric strength are all strong factors in improving COD ability (Lockie, Dawes, & Jones, 2018;Hammami et al, 2018;Suchomel, Nimphius, & Stone, 2017;Spiteri et al, 2013;Spiteri et al, 2014). A greater eccentric strength capacity improves the breaking force (Spiteri et al, 2014), thus the ability to accept and apply force during this phase is enhanced.…”

Comparison of Change of Direction Speed Performance and Asymmetries between Team-Sport Athletes: Application of Change of Direction Deficit

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare COD deficit and 505 performance across a range of team-sports, while considering the effect of sex and sport. The COD deficits presented for the team-sports in Table 1 and Table 2 are in line with those reported in male cricket (D: 0.617 ± 0073 s, ND: 0.670 ± 0.087 s) [6], female rugby (left: 0.581 ± 0.248 s, right: 0.545 ± 0.244 s) [23], and Division 1 (0.49 ± 0.16 s) and 2 (0.72 ± 0.18 s) female soccer players [32] using the same assessment (10-m 505). In most cases, sex or sport differences were observed for COD performance and 10-m sprint times (Table 2, Table 3 and Table S1), with males displaying faster 10-m sprint times compared to females of the same sport (Table S1).…”

“…Despite the recent popularity of the COD deficit [21,23,32,33], to the best of our knowledge, only one study has explored asymmetries in COD deficit during the 505 and this was limited to youth female netballers [24]. Further understanding of COD ability and asymmetries in athletes from different athletic populations is needed to improve a coach’s ability to prescribe and monitor training for their athletes [34].…”