Reyes-Laredo, F.; Pareja-Blanco, F.; López-Lluch, G.; Rodríguez-Bies, E. The Evolution of Physical Performance throughout an Entire Season in Female Football Players. Sports2024, 12, 52.
Reyes-Laredo, F.; Pareja-Blanco, F.; López-Lluch, G.; Rodríguez-Bies, E. The Evolution of Physical Performance throughout an Entire Season in Female Football Players. Sports 2024, 12, 52.
Reyes-Laredo, F.; Pareja-Blanco, F.; López-Lluch, G.; Rodríguez-Bies, E. The Evolution of Physical Performance throughout an Entire Season in Female Football Players. Sports2024, 12, 52.
Reyes-Laredo, F.; Pareja-Blanco, F.; López-Lluch, G.; Rodríguez-Bies, E. The Evolution of Physical Performance throughout an Entire Season in Female Football Players. Sports 2024, 12, 52.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the seasonal variations in relevant indices of physical performance in female soccer players. Twenty-seven female soccer players were assessed at week 2 of the season (pre-season, PS), week 7 (end of pre-season, EP), week 24 (half-season, HS), and week 38 (end of season, ES). Testing sessions consisted of: 1) vertical countermovement jump (CMJ); 2) 20-m running sprint (T20); 3) 25-m side-step cutting maneuver test (V-CUT); and 4) progressive loading test in the full-squat exercise (V1-LOAD). Participants followed their normal soccer training, which consisted of three weekly training sessions and an official match, without any type of intervention. No significant time effects were observed for CMJ height (P = 0.29) and T20 (P = 0.11) along the season. Significant time effects were found for V-CUT (P = 0.004) and V1-LOAD (P = 0.001). V-CUT performance significantly improved from HS to ES (P = 0.001). Significant increases were observed for V1-LOAD throughout the season: PS-HS (P = 0.009), PS-ES (P < 0.001); EP-ES (P < 0.001); HS-ES (P = 0.009). In conclusion, female adapted soccer training may be effective for increasing muscle strength and change of direction ability. The high volume of endurance-type training typically accumulated throughout the season may prevent any sprint and jump improvements.
Keywords
Seasonal variations; female athletes; jump; sprint; change of direction; strength
Subject
Social Sciences, Other
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
