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Purpose: Monitoring player readiness to train and perform is an important practical concept in football. Despite an abundance of research in this area in the male game, to date, research is limited in female football. The aims of this study were, first, to summarize the current literature on the monitoring of readiness in female football; second, to summarize the current evidence regarding the monitoring of the menstrual cycle and its potential impact on physical preparation and performance in female footballers; and third, to offer practical recommendations based on the current evidence for practitioners working with female football players. Conclusions: Practitioners should include both objective (eg, heart rate and countermovement jump) and subjective measures (eg, athlete-reported outcome measures) in their monitoring practices. This would allow them to have a better picture of female players' readiness. Practitioners should assess the reliability of their monitoring (objective and subjective) tools before adopting them with their players. The use of athlete-reported outcome measures could play a key role in contexts where technology is not available (eg, in semiprofessional and amateur clubs); however, practitioners need to be aware that many single-item athlete-reported outcome measures instruments have not been properly validated. Finally, tracking the menstrual cycle can identify menstrual dysfunction (eg, infrequent or irregular menstruation) that can indicate a state of low energy availability or an underlying gynecological issue, both of which warrant further investigation by medical practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leg strength and multidirectional speed qualities have repeatedly been linked with increased performance during Rugby League (RL) match play and associated with career attainment. However, very little of this evidence for strength has been gained through unilateral measurements with no study available that has examined the impact of strength asymmetry, in this population, on speed qualities in RL players. Therefore, this study examined the association between unilateral strength, and as a novel development, the subject with the most extreme asymmetry was identified for further analysis. Fifty RL players undertook the rear foot elevated split squat 5 repetition maximum, 20-m linear sprint, and modified 505 change of direction test. The mean leg strength for the group was 88.92 ± 12.59 kg; when divided by body mass, the mean relative strength (REL) was 1.03 ± 0.17 kg·kg-1, and the mean asymmetry was 3.21 ± 5.70%. The subject with the greatest asymmetry (subject A) had an imbalance of 33% and a mean leg strength of 75 kg (REL = 0.78 kg·kg-1) and a body mass 1 SD above the group mean. Analysis of the group's data and that of subject A did not indicate that leg strength asymmetry was either frequent or harmful, with respect to speed performance. However, relative leg strength was associated with both improved linear and multidirectional speed. Practitioners are recommended to prioritize the development of relative leg strength and disregard the aspiration for between leg performance symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the influence of match status (drawing, losing, or winning) and possession status (inpossession, out-of-possession, or ball-out-of-play) on the physical and technical characteristics of U14 and U16 elite youth female soccer match-play. Data were collected from 189 female academy players during 45 competitive matches, resulting in 387 match observations. Linear mixed models estimated relative; total distance, high-speed running (≥3.00 m·s−1), very high-speed running (≥4.83 m·s−1), and sprinting (≥5.76 m·s−1) distance according to match status and possession status, and 21 technical variables according to match status. Differences in physical and technical characteristics were observed between and within age-groups, dependent upon match status and possession status. Regardless of match status, both age-groups covered greater distances when the ball was in-play compared to ball-out-of-play (107–130 vs 58–68 m·min−1). U16s covered greater distances when out-of-possession than in-possession, regardless of match status. Whilst U14s covered greater distances out-of-possession when drawing or losing only. Differences in physical and technical characteristics when drawing, losing, or winning, suggest a change in playing style according to match status, likely in an attempt to influence or maintain the score-line. These findings have practical implications for coaching, talent identification and development practices within youth female soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the maximal intensity periods (MIP) of soccer matches can optimise training prescription. The aim was to establish differences between positions and other contextual factors (match location, match outcome, playing formation and score line) for both external and internal MIP variables and to investigate the differences in the match start time between MIP variables. Maximal moving averages (1 to 10 min) for average speed, high-speed running (5.5–7 m·s−1), sprinting (>7 m·s−1; all m·min−1), average acceleration/deceleration (m·s−2) and heart rate (bpm, % maximal) were calculated from 24 professional youth players across 31 matches. Linear mixed models determined differences in MIP variables between positions, contextual factors and in the match start time of MIPs. Trivial to large positional differences existed in maximal external intensities while central defenders presented the lowest heart rate. It was unclear whether maximal intensities were influenced by contextual factors. MIPs for average speed, acceleration/deceleration and heart rate tend to occur concurrently (ES = trivial) within the first 30 min, while high-speed running and sprinting are likely to occur concurrently (ES = trivial) throughout a whole match. Practitioners could target maximising average speed and average acceleration/deceleration in technical-tactical based training to maximise heart rate responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study quantified whole and peak physical characteristics of Under (U)14 and U16 elite youth female soccer, and compared by position and age-group. Data was collected using 10 Hz GPS units from 431 match observations, during 50 matches involving 201 players (U14 n = 93; U16 n = 108) representing Regional Talent Centres in The Football Association's Girl's England Talent Pathway League. Whole match data were reported as absolute and relative; total (TD), high-speed running (HSR; =3.46 m·s-1), very highspeed running (VHSR; =5.29 m·s-1), and sprinting (SPR; =6.26 m·s-1) distance, and maximum velocity. Moving average analysis determined peak data (1-10 minute durations). Linear mixed models established position-specific differences. U16s covered greater; absolute distance at all speeds (small-moderate ESs; p < 0.001); relative VHSR and SPR m·min-1 (small-moderate ESs; p < 0.001); peak TD and HSR m·min-1 (small ESs) across several peak-durations, and VHSR m·min-1 (small ESs; p < 0.001) across all peakdurations compared to U14s. Position-specific differences were observed across all positions between and within both age-groups, identifying whole and peak physical characteristics are age- and positiondependent within elite youth female soccer match-play. Findings may facilitate informed coaching practices and training programme design, talent identification and development processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the locomotor characteristics of competition can help rugby league (RL) coaches optimise training prescription. To date, no research exists on the locomotor characteristics of women's RL. The aim was to compare whole match and peak locomotor characteristics of women's RL competition at international (RL World Cup [WRLWC]) and domestic level (Super League [WSL]). Microtechnology data were collected from 58 players from 3-WSL clubs and 1-WRLWC team. Participants were classified into forwards (n = 30) and backs (n = 28). Partial least squares correlation analysis established which variables were important to discriminate between the level of competition (international vs. domestic) and positional group (forwards vs. backs). Linear mixed-effects models estimated the differences between standards of competition and positional group for those variables. International forwards were most likely exposed to greater peak 1-min average acceleration (standardised mean difference = 1.23 [0.42 to 2.04]) and peak 3-min average acceleration (1.13 [0.41 to 1.85]) than domestic forwards. International backs likely completed greater peak 1-min average acceleration (0.83 [0.08 to 1.58]) than domestic backs and possibly greater high-speed-distances (0.45 [−0.17 to 1.07]). Findings highlight the need for positional specific training across levels to prepare representative players for the increased match characteristics of international competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to (a) provide comparative isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) force-time characteristics for elite youth soccer players and (b) determine the effect of age and maturation on IMTP force-time characteristics. Elite male youth soccer players (U12 n = 51; U13 n = 54; U14 n = 56; U15 n = 45; U16 n = 39; and U18 n = 48) across 3 maturity offset groups (Pre n = 117; circa n = 84; and Post-peak height velocity n = 92) performed 2 maximal IMTP trials on a portable force platform (1,000 Hz). Absolute and relative values for peak force (PF) and impulse over 100 and 300 ms were analyzed. A full Bayesian regression model was used to provide probable differences similar to that of a frequentist p value. Advanced age and maturation resulted in superior IMTP force-time characteristics. Peak force demonstrated high probabilities of a difference between all consecutive age groups (p > 0.95). For absolute and relative impulse (100 and 300 ms), only 2 consecutive age groups (U14-15's and U16-18's) demonstrated high probabilities of a difference (p > 0.95) with large effects (d = 0.59-0.93). There were high probable differences between all maturity offset groups for PF and impulse with medium to large effects (d = 0.56-3.80). These were also reduced when expressed relative to body mass (relative PF and relative impulse). This study provides comparative IMTP force-time characteristics of elite male youth soccer players. Practitioners should consider individual maturation status when comparing players given the impact this has on force expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been an exponential rise in the professionalism and success of female sports. Practitioners (e.g., sport science professionals) aim to apply evidence-informed approaches to optimise athlete performance and well-being. Evidence-informed practices should be derived from research literature. Given the lack of research on elite female athletes, this is challenging at present. This limits the ability to adopt an evidence-informed approach when working in female sports, and as such, we are likely failing to maximize the performance potential of female athletes. This article discusses the challenges of applying an evidence base derived from male athletes to female athletes. A conceptual framework is presented, which depicts the need to question the current (male) evidence base due to the differences of the "female athlete" and the "female sporting environment," which pose a number of challenges for practitioners working in the field. Until a comparable applied sport science research evidence base is established in female athletes, evidence-informed approaches will remain a challenge for those working in female sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of physical qualities for speed and change of direction (CoD) ability in female soccer players. Data were collected on 10 female soccer players who were part of a professional English Women's Super League team. Player assessments included anthropometric (stature and body mass), body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), speed (10-m and 20-m sprints), CoD ability (505 agility), aerobic (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test), lower-body strength (bilateral knee extensions), and power (countermovement jump [CMJ], squat jump [SJ], 30-cm drop jump [DJ]) measures. The relationships between the variables were evaluated using eigenvector analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression revealed that the performance variables (10 and 20 m speed, mean 505, and CoD deficit mean) can be predicted with almost 100% accuracy (i.e., adjusted R² > 0.999) using various combinations of the predictor variables (DJ height, CMJ height, SJ height, and lean body mass). An increase of 1 SD in DJ height was associated with reductions of -5.636 and -9.082 SD in 10-m and 20-m sprint times. One SD increase in CMJ also results in a reduction of -3.317 and -0.922 SD, respectively, in mean 505 and CoD deficit mean values. This study provides comparative data for professional English female soccer players that can be used by strength and conditioning coaches when monitoring player development and assessing the effectiveness of training programs. Findings highlight the importance of developing reactive strength to improve speed and CoD ability in female soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]