Gender disparities in long passing performance among senior football players: implications for inclusive training strategies

Abstract

Background: Football, as the most popular sport globally, encompasses fundamental skills like the lofted pass, a cornerstone technique mastered early in player development. Purpose study: This study aimed to analyze long passing performance disparities between senior male and female football players. Method and material: A total of 74 football players, comprising 35 boys and 39 girls (ages 15-18 years), were randomly selected as subjects. Personal information including academic details, age, Body height (cm), Body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m²), training age, and level played, alongside football performance metrics such as: Ball speed (km), Kicked ball distance (m) and Approach run distance (m), were recorded. Data collection involved the use of a Bushnell Radar gun for speed tests and long pass (Model 101911, USA), a digital weighing scale for body weight (BEURER Typ 35, Germany), Stadiometer for body height measurement (SECA 206, Germany) and a measuring tape for distance measurements. Statistical analysis: The data analysis employed descriptive statistics, Mean, SD, and the Mann-Whitney U Test for independent samples (p<0.05). Results: Indicate significant discrepancies in performance metrics between senior boys and girls. Boys exhibited greater ball speed (Mean=79.00±9.36km) vs. to girls (Mean=51.62±7.92km), with a significant inferential statistic of p<0.00. Similarly, kicked ball distance favored boys (Mean=46.53±51.11m) vs. over girls (Mean=17.47±9.73m), again with a significant inferential statistic of p<0.00. Notably, gender differences were less pronounced in approach run distance. Surprisingly, age, training age, and BMI showed no significant correlations with performance metrics, suggesting other influential factors. Conclusions: These results highlight the notable differences in football performance between genders, highlighting the greater speed and strength of boys in kicks and ball distance covering. Improving overall performance and inclusivity in the sport may depend on addressing these gaps. Keywords: Football, Long Pass, Gender Differences, Performance Metrics, Kinematics.