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Physical performance characteristics of high‐level female soccer players 12–21 years of age
Author(s) -
Vescovi J. D.,
Rupf R.,
Brown T. D.,
Marques M. C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01081.x
Subject(s) - sprint , physical therapy , age groups , medicine , demography , sociology
Performance assessment has become an invaluable component of monitoring player development and within talent identification programs in soccer, yet limited performance data are available for female soccer players across a wide age range. The aim of this study was to describe the physical performance characteristics of female soccer players ranging in age from 12 to 21 years. High‐level female soccer players ( n =414) were evaluated on linear sprinting (36.6 m with 9.1 m splits), countermovement jump (CMJ), and two agility tests. Separate one‐way ANOVAs were used to compare performance characteristics between (1) each year of chronological age and (2) three age groups: 12–13 years, n =78, 14–17 years, n =223, and 18–21 years, n =113. Mean linear sprint speed over 9.1 m was similar across all chronological ages, however sprint speed over the final 9.1 m, CMJ height and agility scores improved until approximately 15–16 years. Outcomes from the group data indicated better performance on all tests for the 14–17‐year‐old group compared with the 12–13‐year‐old group. Additionally, sprint speed on the second and fourth 9.1 m splits and 36.6 m sprint speed as well as performance on the Illinois agility test was better in the 18–21‐year‐old group compared with the 14–17‐year‐old group. The findings from this study indicate that marked improvements of high intensity short duration work occur up until 15–16 years. Smaller gains in performance were observed beyond 16 years of age as evidenced by better performance on 36.6 m sprint speed, several sprint splits and the Illinois agility test in the college aged players (i.e., 18–21‐year‐old group).