The effect of ball touches on the physical and technical outputs of professional female soccer players in ball possession-based games

This study investigated the effects of the number of allowed ball touches on the physical and technical responses of professional female players during 4v4 ball possession-based games (BPGs). Sixteen female professional soccer players (age: 25.33 ± 4.72 years; body mass: 62.90 ± 9.71 kg; body height: 1.63 ± 0.05 cm) participated in the three differing 4v4 BPG formats where the number of ball touches permitted per possession was altered (one touch = 1T; two touches = 2T; free play = FP). Information regarding players’ physical and technical variables was collected using commercially available foot-mounted inertial measurement units. There was a significant ( p < 0.05) decrease in ball touches from 2T to 1T. With FP and 2T rules, players spent significantly more time on the ball than with 1T ( p < 0.001). In addition, players performed significantly more successful passes when using 1T and 2T forms than when using FP form ( p < 0.05). A significant difference was found on lost possession ( p < 0.05), with players losing more balls when adopting the 1T rule than with the 2T and FP rules. No significant differences ( p > 0.05) were found in any of the players’ physical variables when manipulating the number of ball touches. Soccer coaches may use this information to plan and manage their BPGs sessions to help female players achieve the technical demands of the game by adjusting the number of ball touches permitted per possession.