Training in women soccer players: A systematic review on training load monitoring

Does microcycle length influence the external and internal load in professional female soccer players?

This study aimed to analyze the effects of microcycle length on external and internal load during training sessions and official matches in a professional female soccer team. A total of 32 microcycles were monitored for 20 outfield players using a portable 10 Hz GPS device. Microcycles were categorized by length as short (5-6 days), regular (7 days), or long (8-9 days). Training load during the microcycles was analyzed relative to the days before or after the match day (MD), considering the following sessions: MD+1, MD-4, MD-3, MD-2, and MD-1. The external load was assessed according to total distance (TD), high-intensity running distance (HIR), sprint distance (SPD), and number of high-intensity accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC). Internal load was measured using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and session RPE (s-RPE). The results of linear mixed model analyses showed that TD (d = 1.24-1.35), ACC (d = 0.64-0.66), and DEC (d = 0.90-1.04) were significantly higher on MD+1 in short microcycles compared to regular and long microcycles. On MD-4, large differences were observed between long and short microcycles for TD (d = 1.60), ACC (d = 1.28), DEC (d = 1.28), RPE (d = 1.25), and s-RPE (d = 1.61). Similarly, MD-3 of long microcycles showed significantly higher TD (d = 1.25-1.32), HIR (d = 1.18-1.32), and SPD (d = 0.84-1.68) compared to regular and short microcycles. On MD-2, the highest workload was observed in short microcycles, especially for SPD (d = 1.15-1.34). Overall, this study demonstrated that the external and internal load of training sessions vary depending on the length of the microcycles in professional female soccer.

Impact of the menstrual cycle and barriers to football and futsal performance in Portuguese players: a survey-based cross-sectional study

Introduction

The objective of this study was to investigate the perceived impact of the different phases of the menstrual cycle on football and futsal participation and identify barriers that may limit the performance and participation of Portuguese female players across competition levels.

Methods

An online survey was conducted with the following inclusion criteria: registered participation in official football or futsal Portuguese leagues, an age of 18 years or older, and perceived regular menstrual cycles. A total of 197 answers were obtained and analyzed.

Results

The majority of participants were 18-25 years old (61%), and 59% played futsal. Top-tier league players represented 15% of respondents, mid-tier 26%, and low-tier 59%. For the majority of respondents, the first 3 days of menstruation were perceived as having the most negative impact (66%), with abdominal pain, bloating, and breast tenderness being the most common symptoms. Players also associated the menstrual phase with decreased performance (endurance and power) and self-confidence, whereas they generally felt more confident and motivated during ovulation. No significant differences were found between sports (football and futsal) or competition levels in the perceived impact on performance and participation (p > 0.05). Overall, 53% of the players reported a perceived lack of knowledge and trust in their coach and other staff members to talk openly about menstrual health. The most cited external barrier to sports participation was the fear of leaking. To address the identified challenges, five intervention levels were proposed: communication, comprehension, education, equipment, and facilities.

Discussion

These findings emphasize the need for better communication, education, and structural support to reduce menstruation-related barriers.

High Return to Competition Rate After On-Field Rehabilitation in Competitive Male Soccer Players After ACL Reconstruction: GPS Tracking in 100 Consecutive Cases

Background

Despite published guidelines describing on-field rehabilitation (OFR) frameworks for soccer, available evidence for practitioners who work with players with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is limited.

Purpose

To document the activity and workloads completed by a large cohort of amateur and professional soccer players during OFR following ACLR after completing their indoor rehabilitation and to establish their return to competition (RTC) outcomes.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

OFR measurements/activities, global positioning system (GPS), and heart rate data were collected from 100 male 11-a-side soccer players with ACLR undergoing a criteria-based rehabilitation process, concluding with a 5-stage OFR program. Consent was obtained directly from the players involved in this study before completing a follow-up questionnaire to document RTC outcomes. Differences between the level of play (professional and amateur) and 5 OFR stages were investigated using separate linear mixed models.

Results

A minimum 9-month follow-up was possible for 97 players (97%), with a median time of 2.3 years after ACLR and 84% RTC, with higher rates in professionals (100%) than amateurs (80%). Ten (10%) players sustained an ACL reinjury. Professionals completed more OFR sessions (20.6 ± 7.7 vs 13.2 ± 7.7; P < .001) over a shorter period (44.7 ± 30.3 vs 59.3 ± 28.5 days; P = .044) and achieved higher workloads mostly in the high-intensity GPS metrics in each OFR stage. Typical external workload outputs in the final OFR stage aligned with team training demands for the total distance (TD) (106%), high-intensity distance (HID) (104%), peak speed (PS) (88%), acceleration distance (ACC) (110%), and deceleration distance (DEC) (48%), but they were lower compared with match play demands (TD: 44%; HID: 51%; PS: 82%; ACC: 63%; and DEC: 26%).

Conclusion

High RTC rates were reported in those players who participated in OFR after indoor rehabilitation. Completion of all five OFR stages almost prepared them for team training demands; however, workloads remain low compared to match play.

Incidence and burden of 671 injuries in professional women footballers: time to focus on context-specific injury risk reduction strategies

This study investigated the extent of injury incidence and burden in a professional women football team of the Scottish Women's Premier League during two seasons. All injuries causing time-loss or required medical attention were recorded prospectively. A total of 671 injuries, 570 requiring medical attention and 101 causing time-loss were recorded in 41 players. Injuries occurring with National Team resulted in 12% of the club's international players' lay-off. Overall injury incidence was 11.1/1000-hours and burden was 368.9 days/1000-hours. Injury incidence (23.9/1000-hours vs 8.2/1000-hours) and burden (1049.8 days/1000-hours vs 215.1 days/1000-hours) were higher for match compared to training. Foremost mechanism of match injury burden was indirect-contact, which was different than the non-contact predominantly observed for training injury burden. Injury incidence, burden and patterns differed between training, match and playing positions. Tailoring injury-risk reduction strategies considering context, circumstances and playing position deserve consideration to enhance player's injury resilience in professional women footballers.

Influence of Training Load on Muscle Contractile Properties in Semi-Professional Female Soccer Players Across a Competitive Microcycle: A Pilot Study

This study aimed to evaluate changes in muscle contractile properties during a training microcycle in semi-professional female football players and explore their relationship with training load variables. Nineteen players (age: 23.9 ± 3.9 years; body mass: 60.6 ± 6.9 kg; height: 164.5 ± 6.7 cm) underwent myotonometric assessments of the biceps femoris (BF) and rectus femoris (RF) before and after the following training sessions: MD1 (i.e., 1 day after the match), MD3, MD4, and MD5. Training loads were quantified for each session, revealing significant variations, with MD4 exhibiting the highest values for high-speed running distance, number of sprints, and accelerations. Notably, MD3 showed the highest perceived exertion (RPE), while MD5 recorded the lowest total distance run. Myotonometric assessments indicated significant differences in stiffness of the RF in MD3 and BF in MD5, as well as RF tone in MD5. The findings underscore a notable relationship between training load and myotometric variables, particularly in muscle stiffness and tone. These results emphasize the need for further research to clarify how training loads affect muscle properties in female athletes.

Metabolomic profiling of elite female soccer players: urinary biomarkers over a championship season

INTRODUCTION

In soccer, most studies evaluate metabolic profile changes in male athletes, often using data from a single match. Given the current landscape of women's soccer and the effects of biological sex on the physiological response and adaptation to exercise, more studies targeting female athletes and analyzing pre- and post-game moments throughout the season are necessary.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the metabolomics profile of female soccer athletes from an elite team in Brazil. The study observed the separation of groups in three pre- and post-game moments and identified the discriminating metabolites.

METHODS

The study included 14 female soccer athletes. Urine samples were collected and analyzed using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in pre-game and immediate post-game moments over three national championship games. The metabolomics data were then used to generate OPLS-DA and VIP plots.

RESULTS

Forty-three metabolites were identified in the samples. OPLS-DA analyses demonstrated a progressive separation between pre-post conditions, as supported by an increasing Q2 value (0.534, 0.625, and 0.899 for games 1, 2 and 3, respectively) and the first component value (20.2% and 19.1% in games 1 and 2 vs. 29.9% in game 3). Eight out of the fifteen most discriminating metabolites appeared consistently across the three games: glycine, formate, citrate, 3-hydroxyvalerate, glycolic acid, trimethylamine, urea, and dimethylglycine.

CONCLUSION

The main difference between the three games was the increasing separation between groups throughout the championship. Since the higher VIP-scores metabolites are linked to energy and protein metabolism, this separation may be attributed several factors, one being the accumulation of fatigue.

Overtraining Syndrome as a Risk Factor for Bone Stress Injuries among Paralympic Athletes

Background and Objectives: In this review, we have explored the relationship between overtraining syndrome (OTS) and bone stress injuries among paralympic athletes. OTS is a complex condition that arises from an imbalance between training volume, nutrition, and recovery time, leading to significant negative effects on paralympic athlete's performance and overall well-being. On the other hand, bone stress injuries occur when abnormal and repetitive loading is applied to normal bone, resulting in microdamage accumulation and potential. The prevalence of overtraining syndrome and bone stress injuries among athletes highlights the need for a better understanding of their relationship and implications for prevention and management strategies. Methods: A literature review from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases including the MeSH keywords "overtraining syndrome", "bone", and "paralympic athletes". Results: Studies have consistently shown that athletes engaged in endurance sports are particularly susceptible to overtraining syndrome. The multifactorial nature of this condition involves not only physical factors, but also psychological and environmental determinants. In addition, the diagnosis and management of OTS and bone stress injuries present challenges in clinical practice. Conclusions: Currently, there are no definitive biochemical markers for overtraining syndrome. The diagnosis is based on a combination of subjective measures such as questionnaires, symptoms checklists, and objective biomarkers, including hormone levels, inflammatory markers, and imaging studies. However, these diagnostic approaches have limitations regarding their specificity and sensitivity.

Cognitive Function among Young Women's Football Players in the Summer Heat

Recently, there has been a growing focus on studies related to women's football. However, the cognitive function of female football players has not been extensively characterized. Thus, we explored how the cognitive function of female football players was altered during a series of matches in summer and examined day-to-day variations in cognitive function with regard to dehydration status. Resting cognitive function was assessed from 17 young women football players during the Japan Club Youth Women's football tournament, which spanned eight consecutive days. Cognitive function initially improved, with this improvement sustained throughout the tournament. It is worth noting that ten participants experienced symptoms of dehydration at least once during the tournament; however, these symptoms were not found to be linked to impaired cognitive function, suggesting that resting cognitive function remains unaffected during summer matches, even in the presence of dehydration symptoms.

Players', Head Coaches', And Medical Personnels' Knowledge, Understandings and Perceptions of Injuries and Injury Prevention in Elite-Level Women's Football in Ireland

BACKGROUND

To manage injuries effectively, players, head coaches, and medical personnel need to have excellent knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours in relation to the identification of risk factors for injuries, the implementation of injury prevention initiatives, as well as the implementation of effective injury management strategies. Understanding the injury context, whereby specific personal, environmental, and societal factors can influence the implementation of injury prevention initiatives and injury management strategies is critical to player welfare. To date, no qualitative research investigating the context of injuries, has been undertaken in elite-level women's football. The aim of our study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of players, head coaches, and medical personnel in the Irish Women's National League (WNL) to injury prevention and injury management.

METHODS

We used qualitative research methods to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of players, head coaches, and medical personnel in the Irish WNL to injury prevention and injury management. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 17 players, 8 medical personnel, and 7 head coaches in the Irish WNL. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Our study is located within an interpretivist, constructivist research paradigm.

RESULTS

The participants had incomplete knowledge of common injuries in elite-level football, and many held beliefs about risk factors for injuries, such as menstrual cycle stage, which lacked evidence to support them. Jumping and landing exercises were commonly used to reduce the risk of injuries but evidence-based injury prevention exercises and programmes such as the Nordic hamstring curl, Copenhagen adduction exercise, and the FIFA 11+ were rarely mentioned. Overall, there was dissatisfaction amongst players with their medical care and strength and conditioning (S & C) support, with resultant inadequate communication between players, head coaches, and medical personnel.

CONCLUSION

Poor quality and availability of medical care and S & C support were considered to be a major obstacle in the effective implementation of injury risk reduction strategies and successful return-to-sport practices. More original research is required in elite-level women's football to explore injury risk factors, injury prevention initiatives, and contextual return-to-sport strategies, so that players, head coaches, and medical personnel can use evidence that is both up-to-date and specific to their environment.

Physical Performance Profiles in Norwegian Premier League Female Football: A Descriptive Study

PURPOSE

To map anthropometric and physical performance profiles in Norwegian premier league female football players.

METHODS

During preseason, the physical qualities of 107 players were tested on Keiser leg press, countermovement jump, 40-meter sprint, and agility. Descriptive statistics were presented as mean (SD) and median [interquartile range]. Pearson correlations analyses were made for all performance tests, and results presented as R value with 95% CIs.

RESULTS

The female players were 22 (4) years of age, stature 169.0 (6.2) cm, body weight 65.3 (6.7) kg; force 2122 (312) N, power 1090 (140) W, sprint 40 m 5.75 (0.21) seconds, agility dominant 10.18 (0.32) seconds, nondominant 10.27 (0.31) seconds, and countermovement jump 32.6 (4.1) cm. Outfield players were faster and more agile than goalkeepers, a difference of 40 m, agility of dominant, and nondominant leg, respectively: 0.20 [0.09-0.32], 0.37 [0.21-0.54], and 0.28 [0.12-45]; P < .001. Goalkeepers and central defenders were taller and heavier compared with fullbacks, central midfielders, and wide midfielders (P ranging from <.02). A difference was found between dominant and nondominant legs for the agility test, showing that players are faster when changing direction with the dominant leg.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study presents anthropometric and physical performance profiles of Norwegian premier league female football players. We found no difference for the physical qualities strength, power, sprint, agility, and countermovement jump between any outfield playing positions in female premier league players. There was a difference between outfield players and goalkeepers for sprint and agility.

Training Load Quantification in Women's Elite Football: A Season-Long Prospective Cohort Study

The aim of this study was to investigate (1) if there are differences in training load and intensity between the different training days within a microcycle and (2) if training load and intensity within the different training days are stable over the course of a season. Data were collected over a full season from a team in the women's premier division in Norway. External load (total distance, high-speed-running distance, sprint distance, and the combined number of accelerations and decelerations [ACCDEC]) was assessed using a 10-Hz GPS system with a built-in accelerometer. Internal load was assessed through session rating of perceived exertion, which was multiplied with session duration (session rating of perceived exertion-load). Training days were classified in relation to their proximity to the upcoming match day (MD): MD - 4, MD - 3, MD - 2, and MD - 1. Contents on these days were standardized according to a weekly periodization model followed by the coaching staff. Differences between training days were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. All training days were significantly different from each other across multiple variables. ACCDEC values were highest on MD - 4 (147.5 [13.0] ACCDEC count), and all distance variables were highest on MD - 3. All measures of training load were significantly reduced from MD - 3 to MD - 2 (effect size [ES] = 1.0-4.1) and from MD - 2 to MD - 1 (ES = 1.6-4.3). A significant negative effect across the season was observed for session rating of perceived exertion-load and ACCDEC (ES = 0.8-2.1). These results provide evidence that elite female football teams can be successful in differentiating training load between training days when implementing a weekly periodization approach.