The effect of team competition level on youth female soccer players' training activity and response

THE EFFECT OF TEAM COMPETITION LEVEL ON YOUTH FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS’ TRAINING ACTIVITY AND RESPONSE The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the physical training demands of youth female soccer players differ based on team standard level of competition. A secondary objective was to substantiate whether differences in the physical team-based training activity between advanced and competitive-level female footballers persist across multiple sessions and remain consistent during a phase of a competitive season. This study utilized a repeated-measures design, with advanced and competitive-level female footballers aged 15-17 years participating in three trials of the same team-based football-specific training session, separated by 7-days, over a three-consecutive week period. The experimental training session was designed to replicate team-based training in football. Polar® Pro Sensors (GPS, accelerometry and heart rate) were worn across footballers’ chests to measure distance covered, intensity of activity, and heart rate response during football training. External (total distance covered, number of acceleration & deceleration, and sprinting actions) and internal (%HRmax) load markers of training demand were compared by time, standard of competition, tactical playing position and training activity type. Detection of significant team standard of play differences in training activity and skill performance were found. The advanced female players covered a greater total distance at high intensity in training sessions 1 (964.58 ± 318.86 vs. 485.90 ± 242. 67 m) and 3 (690.58 ± 252.68 vs. 446.90 ± 187.34 m), scored more total goals (1.11 ± .40), completed more dribbles (2.30 ± .65), and tackles (1.02 ± .41) than competitive-level players over 3 weeks of team practice. These findings should be considered in female soccer talent identification, training and developmental processes.