Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the associations between linear sprint, curve sprint (CS), change of direction (COD) speed, and jump performance in a sample of 17 professional female soccer players. All athletes performed squat and countermovement jumps, single leg horizontal triple jumps, 17 m linear sprints, CS tests, and a 17 m Zigzag COD test. A Pearson product–moment test was performed to determine the relationships among the assessed variables. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Nearly perfect associations (r > 0.9) were found between linear and CS velocities. Players faster in linear sprints and CS exhibited greater COD deficits. No significant associations were found between COD deficit and either body mass or sprint momentum. Jumping ability was significantly correlated with linear sprint and CS performance, but not to COD performance. These findings may be used by coaches and practitioners to guide testing and training prescriptions in this population. The associations observed here suggest that training methods designed to improve linear sprint and CS velocities may benefit from the implementation of vertically and horizontally oriented plyometric exercises.
Highlights
The physical performance and match-play demands of elite men’s soccer players have been widely investigated [1,2]
The present study examines the associations between linear sprint, curve sprint (CS), change of direction (COD), and jump performances in a sample of elite female soccer players
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between linear sprint, CS, COD, and jump performances in elite female soccer players
Summary
The physical performance and match-play demands of elite men’s soccer players have been widely investigated [1,2]. Information on top-level female players is scant, even though the sport is becoming increasingly popular. Different studies have shown that a women’s soccer match is characterized by intermittent efforts, with players covering. Data from competitions indicate that sprinting actions are frequent and determinant during match-play [3,4,5]. Mohr et al [4] reported that higherlevel female players cover a greater distance (~24%) while sprinting than do their less skilled counterparts (i.e., lower-level players). Since the majority of sprint efforts in soccer are non-linear, this emphasizes the need to develop sprinting ability in this population, over straight courses and along multidirectional trajectories [6,7,8]
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