Abstract
Female soccer has seen a substantial rise in participation, as well as increased financial support from governing bodies over the last decade. Thus, there is an onus on researchers and medical departments to develop a better understanding of the physical characteristics and demands, and the health and performance needs of female soccer players. In this review, we discuss the current research, as well as the knowledge gaps, of six major topics: physical demands, talent identification, body composition, injury risk and prevention, health and nutrition. Data on female talent identification are scarce, and future studies need to elucidate the influence of relative age and maturation selection across age groups. Regarding the physical demands, more research is needed on the pattern of high-intensity sprinting during matches and the contribution of soccer-specific movements. Injuries are not uncommon in female soccer players, but targeting intrinsically modifiable factors with injury prevention programmes can reduce injury rates. The anthropometric and physical characteristics of female players are heterogeneous and setting specific targets should be discouraged in youth and sub-elite players. Menstrual cycle phase may influence performance and injury risk; however, there are few studies in soccer players. Nutrition plays a critical role in health and performance and ensuring adequate energy intake remains a priority. Despite recent progress, there is considerably less research in female than male soccer players. Many gaps in our understanding of how best to develop and manage the health and performance of female soccer players remain.
Highlights
Interest in female soccer has grown exponentially in recent years [1]
While decisions on the specifics of such protocols are highly dependent on the context within which the organisation operates, it is suggested that where appropriate the method of assessment should be dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) [52] or skinfolds [International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)]
The six topics discussed in this review are of pertinent interest to researchers and practitioners working in female soccer
Summary
Interest in female soccer has grown exponentially in recent years [1]. Financial support from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has trebled [2], and participation rates over the last 10 years have grown by a third [3]. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is committed to increase the number of female soccer players from ~ 13.3 million (2019) to 60 million by 2026 [1]. As well as the male equivalent, it is incumbent that coaches and support staff protect the health and well-being of players, as well as optimise their performance. In contrast to professional men’s soccer, and largely due to the explosion in female participation, science has struggled to keep pace with the demand for evidence-based studies to inform practice [4], as female players transition from amateur to professional level.
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