Differences in physical and technical-tactical performance between playing positions in female soccer players in FIFA competitions
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare physical and technical-tactical performance between playing positions in official FIFA matches in elite female soccer players. A total of 39 official FIFA matches were analyzed (31 international friendlies, 3 from the 2019 World Cup in France, 2 Olympic playoffs and 3 2021 Olympic games) in 23 field players divided into 5 central defenders (DFC), 9 lateral defenders (DFL), 5 midfielders (MC) and 4 forwards (DL) from an elite national soccer team. Age = 27 ± 3.4 years; height = 162.4 ± 4.3 cm, body mass = 59.5 ± 4.6 kg. The study variables considered physical aspects such as total distance (DT), distance at high intensity (DAI), number of spikes (NP), maximum speed (VM), Playerload (PL), number of accelerations (AC) and decelerations (DES) and from the technical-tactical aspects, the offensive phase was analyzed (that is, in possession of the ball), number of passes (NPA), number of effective passes (NPAE) and percentage of effective passes (%PPAE). On the contrary, in the defensive phase (that is, without possession of the ball) number of duels (NDU), number of effective duels (NDUE) and percentage of effective duels (%DUE). The results of the study regarding the physical variables DT, PL, AC and DES showed significant differences (p < .05) with a large effect size and in the technical-tactical performance NPA, NPAE, NDU and PDUE showed significant differences (p < .05) with a large effect size between playing positions. The main conclusion is that the central defense position presented a lower amount of total distance, but a greater number of duels won and effective passes compared to the rest of the positions. Therefore, there are physical and technical-tactical differences between playing positions.
Downloads
References
Ade, J., Fitzpatrick, J., & Bradley, P. S. (2016). High-intensity efforts in elite soccer matches and associated movement patterns, technical skills and tactical actions. Information for position-specific training drills. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(24), 2205–2214. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1217343
Alexiou, H., & Coutts, A. J. (2008). A Comparison of Methods Used for Quantifying Internal Training Load in Women Soccer Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 3(3), 320–330. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.3.3.320
Aquino, R., Carling, C., Maia, J., Vieira, L. H. P., Wilson, R. S., Smith, N., Almeida, R., Gonçalves, L. G. C., Kalva-Filho, C. A., Garganta, J., & Puggina, E. F. (2020). Relationships between running demands in soccer match-play, anthropometric, and physical fitness characteristics: a systematic review. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20(3), 534–555. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2020.1746555
Bangsbo, J., Mohr, M., & Krustrup, P. (2006). Physical and metabolic demands of training and match-play in the elite football player. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(7), 665–674. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500482529
Barrett, S., Midgley, A., & Lovell, R. (2014). PlayerLoadTM: Reliability, convergent validity, and influence of unit position during treadmill running. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9(6), 945–952. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0418
Barrett, S., Midgley, A. W., Towlson, C., Garrett, A., Portas, M., & Lovell, R. (2016). Within-Match PlayerLoadTM Patterns During a Simulated Soccer Match: Potential Implications for Unit Positioning and Fatigue Management. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 11(1), 135–140. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2014-0582
Borg, G., Hassmén, P., & Lagerström, M. (1987). Perceived exertion related to heart rate and blood lactate during arm and leg exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 56(6), 679–685. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00424810
Bradley, P. S. (2023). FIFA Women’s World CupTM Physical Analysis.
Casamichana, D., & Castellano, J. (2014). Variables Contextuales Y Distancia Recorrida En La Copa Mundial Sudáfrica’10. Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, 14(56), 603–617.
da Mota, G. R., Thiengo, C. R., Gimenes, S. V., & Bradley, P. S. (2016). The effects of ball possession status on physical and technical indicators during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(6), 493–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1114660
Datson, N., Drust, B., Weston, M., & Gregson, W. (2019). Repeated high-speed running in elite female soccer players during international competition. Science and Medicine in Football, 3(2), 150–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2018.1508880
Datson, N., Drust, B., Weston, M., Jarman, I. H., Lisboa, P. J., & Gregson, W. (2017). Match Physical Performance of Elite Female Soccer Players during International Competition. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(9), 2379–2387. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001575
Datson, N., Hulton, A., Andersson, H., Lewis, T., Weston, M., Drust, B., & Gregson, W. (2014). Applied physiology of female soccer: An update. Sports Medicine, 44(9), 1225–1240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0199-1
Dellal, A., Wong, D. P., Moalla, W., & Chamari, K. (2010). Physical and technical activity of soccer players in the French first league- with special reference to their playing position. International SportMed Journal, 11(2), 278-290.
Di Salvo, V., Gregson, W., Atkinson, G., Tordoff, P., & Drust, B. (2009). Analysis of high intensity activity in premier league soccer. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 30(3), 205–212. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1105950
FIFA. (2019a). Physical analysis of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. In World Cup Analysis. https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/4f40a98140d305e2/original/zijqly4oednqa5gffgaz-pdf.pdf
FIFA. (2019b). Physical analysis of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
FIFA. (2021). FIFA world ranking women. https://www.fifa.com/es/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20210625
Flatt, A. A., & Esco, M. R. (2015). Smartphone-Derived Heart-Rate Variability and Training Load in a Women’s Soccer Team. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10(8), 994–1000. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2014-0556
Freire, L. de A., Brito, M. A., Muñoz, P. M., Pérez, D. I. V., Kohler, H. C., Aedo-Muñoz, E. A., Slimani, M., Brito, C. J., Bragazzi, N. L., Znazen, H., & Miarka, B. (2022). Match Running Performance of Brazilian Professional Soccer Players according to Tournament Types. Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 11(1), 53–58. https://doi.org/10.26773/mjssm.220306
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N., Myhill, N., & Emmonds, S. (2022). A systematic review of match-play characteristics in women’s soccer. PLOS ONE, 17(6), 1-46. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268334
Hopkins, W. G., Marshall, S. W., Batterham, A. M., & Hanin, J. (2009). Progressive Statistics for Studies in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e31818cb278
Ingebrigtsen, J., Dillern, T., & Shalfawi, S. A. I. (2011). Aerobic capacities and anthropometric characteristics of elite female soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(12), 3352–3357. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318215f763
Kubayi, A. (2021). Position-specific physical and technical demands during the 2019 COPA América Football tournament. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 33(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2021/v33i1a11955
Kvas-cabral, V. C., Martins, H., Oneda, G., Enes, A., & Ivan, F. (2022). Physical, technical, and tactical differences between continental soccer teams participating in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 22(6), 1507–1515. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2022.06190
Lago-Peñas, C., & Dellal, A. (2010). Ball possession strategies in elite soccer according to the evolution of the match-score: The influence of situational variables. Journal of Human Kinetics, 25(1), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-010-0036-z
Lago, E. D., & Vargas, F. S. (2010). La influencia de la localización del partido, el nivel del oponente y el marcador en la posesión del balón en el fútbol de alto nivel. Apunts. Educació Física i Esports, 4(102), 78–86.
Lakens, D. (2013). Calculating and reporting effect sizes to facilitate cumulative science: A practical primer for t-tests and ANOVAs. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00863
Manson, S. A., Brughelli, M., & Harris, N. K. (2014). Physiological Characteristics of International Female Soccer Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(2), 308–318. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31829b56b1
Martín-García, A., Casamichana, D., Gómez Díaz, A., Cos, F., & Gabbett, T. J. (2018). Positional differences in the most demanding passages of play in football competition. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 17(4), 563–570.
Milanović, Z., Sporiš, G., James, N., Trajković, N., Ignjatović, A., Sarmento, H., Trecroci, A., & Mendes, B. M. B. (2017). Physiological Demands, Morphological Characteristics, Physical Abilities and Injuries of Female Soccer Players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 60(1), 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2017-0091
Passos Ramos, G., Datson, N., Mahseredjian, F., Lopes, T. R., Coimbra, C. C., Prado, L. S., Nakamura, F. Y., & Penna, E. M. (2019). Activity profile of training and matches in Brazilian Olympic female soccer team. Science and Medicine in Football, 3(3), 231–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2019.1615120
Ramos, G. P., Nakamura, F. Y., Pereira, L. A., Junior, W. B., Mahseredjian, F., Wilke, C. F., Garcia, E. S., & Coimbra, C. C. (2017). Movement Patterns of a U-20 National Women’s Soccer Team during Competitive Matches: Influence of Playing Position and Performance in the First Half. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 38(10), 747–754. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-110767
Rites, A., Viana, D., Merino-Muñoz, P., Miarka, B., Aedomuñoz, E., Peréz-Contreras, J., & Salerno, V. P. (2022). Do contextual factors, tournament level, and location affect external match load in elite Brazilian youth soccer players? Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 22(11), 2898–2903. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2022.11366
Sporis, G., Jukic, I., Ostojic, S. M., & Milanovic, D. (2009). Fitness profiling in soccer: Physical and physiologic characteristics of elite players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23(7), 1947–1953. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b3e141
Taylor, J. B., Mellalieu, S. D., & James, N. (2004). Behavioural comparisons of positional demands in professional soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 4(1), 81–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2004.11868294
Villaseca-Vicuña, R., Otero-Saborido, F. M., Perez-Contreras, J., & Gonzalez-Jurado, J. A. (2021). Relationship between Physical Fitness and Match Performance Parameters of Chile Women’s National Football Team. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168412
Villaseca‐Vicuña, R., Pérez-Contreras, J., Merino-Muñoz, P., Morales-Acuña, F., Giráldez, J., & Zabaloy, S. (2024). Influence of the quality of the opponent on physical, technical, and tactical performance of elite female soccer players in international competitions. Sport Sciences for Health, 20(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-024-01178-9
The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.
© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013
2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.
3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.
The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.
© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013
2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.
3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.
