Effective conditioning of female soccer players

We compared the efficacy of three physical conditioning programmes provided over a 12 week period (24 h in total) on selected anthropometric and physical fitness parameters in female soccer players. Two of the groups received physical conditioning training in accordance with speed, agility and quick...

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Published in:	Journal of sports sciences Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 191 - 203
Main Authors:	Polman, Remco, Walsh, Darren, Bloomfield, Jonny, Nesti, Mark
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London Taylor & Francis Ltd 01-02-2004 Taylor and Francis
Subjects:	Adaptation, Physiological - physiology Adult Anthropometry Biological and medical sciences Exercise - physiology Female female soccer fitness Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Humans Muscle, Skeletal - physiology Oxygen Consumption - physiology physical conditioning Physical Education and Training - methods Physical Endurance - physiology Physical Fitness - physiology Soccer - physiology Task Performance and Analysis Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports Human Physical fitness Sport Soccer fitness physical conditioning Female Conditioning female soccer
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Summary:	We compared the efficacy of three physical conditioning programmes provided over a 12 week period (24 h in total) on selected anthropometric and physical fitness parameters in female soccer players. Two of the groups received physical conditioning training in accordance with speed, agility and quickness (SAQ); one group used specialized resistance and speed development SAQ equipment (equipment group; n = 12), while the other group used traditional soccer coaching equipment (non-equipment group; n = 12). A third group received their regular fitness sessions (active control group; n = 12). All three interventions decreased (P <0.001) the participants' body mass index (−3.7%) and fat percentage (−1.7%), and increased their flexibility (+14.7%) and maximal aerobic capacity ([Vdot]O 2max ) (+18.4%). The participants in the equipment and non-equipment conditioning groups showed significantly (P <0.005) greater benefits from their training programme than those in the active control group by performing significantly better on the sprint to fatigue (−11.6% for both the equipment and non-equipment groups versus −6.2% for the active control group), 25 m sprint (−4.4% vs −0.7%), left (−4.5% vs −1.0%) and right (−4.0% vs −1.4%) side agility, and vertical (+18.5% vs +4.8%) and horizontal (+7.7% vs +1.6%) power tests. Some of these differences in improvements in physical fitness between the equipment and non-equipment conditioning groups on the one hand and the active control group on the other hand were probably due to the specificity of the training programmes. It was concluded that SAQ training principles appear to be effective in the physical conditioning of female soccer players. Moreover, these principles can be implemented during whole team training sessions without the need for specialized SAQ equipment. Finally, more research is required to establish the relationship between physical fitness and soccer performance as well as the principles underlying the improvements seen through the implementation of SAQ training programmes.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	0264-0414 1466-447X
DOI:	10.1080/02640410310001641458