Multi-Year Physiological And Performance Profile Of An NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Team

Abstract

The physiological profile of men’s soccer players has been well documented; however, there are limited data on women. Therefore, the physiological and performance differences between playing positions within a collegiate women’s team is not fully understood. PURPOSE: To compare physiological and performance characteristics between the four main soccer positions in a cohort of women. METHODS: 53 Division I women soccer players (18.5 ± 1.2 yrs., 168.6 ± 5.3 cm, 64.6 ± 7.4 kg) across four seasons were included in the study, and classified into the following groups; Goalkeepers (GK, n = 6), Defenders (D, n = 17), Midfielders (M, n = 17), and Forwards (F, n = 13). Physiological assessments were performed on the first day of preseason each year and included anthropometric and performance measures (10, 20, and 30m sprint, agility (arrowhead), lower-body power (countermovement jump), aerobic capacity (Yo-Yo IR1 test), and repeated sprint ability). RESULTS: Goalkeepers (18.8 ± 1.7 yrs., 172.1 ± 7.3 cm, 68.4 ± 9.0 kg, 20.5 ± 6.4% body fat), defenders (18.4 ± 1.0 yrs., 168.1 ± 3.4 cm, 65.9 ± 8.5 kg, 23.5 ± 7.2% body fat), midfielders (18.9 ± 1.3 yrs., 167.3 ± 5.5 cm, 63.1 ± 5.5 kg, 22.0 ± 4.4% body fat), and forwards (17.9 ± 0.8 yrs., 169.2 ± 5.8 cm, 62.8 ± 7.1 kg, 19.4 ± 3.6% body fat) had similar body composition. There were no significant differences in performance measures based on position; vertical jump (GK 34.9 ± 7.9, D 31.7 ± 4.5, M 32.1 ± 4.0, F 30.8 ± 3.9 cm), 30m speed (GK 4.668 ± 0.232, D 4.669 ± 0.180, M 4.714 ± 0.224, F 4.573 ± 0.149 s), repeated sprint ability (GK 0.973 ± 0.329, D 0.747 ± 0.318, M 0.738 ± 0.516, F 0.616 ± 0.246 s), and aerobic capacity (GK 1070 ± 369, D 1101 ± 311, M 1179 ± 312, F 1142 ± 391 m) (p > .05). CONCLUSION: The lack of differences in performance measurements across playing position could be due to team-based training methods selected by the coaches.