Positional differences in peak- and accumulated-training load relative to match load in highly-trained female football players

Introduction: The evaluation of the physical load of the training process is paramount not only as an attempt to decrease injury rates or to verify the effectiveness of interventions but mostly to find the best way to stimulate the players and optimise their physical capacity. Literature has focused mainly on professional meńs football and future research on female football is mandatory. Thus, this study aimed to compare a) the peak periods in training sessions and matches and b) the accumulated-training load of microcycles and official matches by playing position in female football players. Methods: ), and maximum speed. Results: = 0.002). Discussion: The present study corroborates the evidence reported in men's football, where the lower training/match ratios of HSRD and SpD when compared with TD and accdist reveal that the common build-up of training weeks might not give the contextual opportunities for the appearance and/or accumulation of high-speed actions.