dc.description.abstract | The present study investigated the position-specific match demands and heart rate
response of female elite footballers, with special focus on the full-game, end-game,
and peak-intensity periods. In total, 217 match observations were performed in 94
players from all eight teams of the best Danish Women's League, that is, goalkeepers
(GK, n = 10), central defenders (CD, n = 23), full-backs (FB, n = 18), central
midfielders (CM, n = 28), external midfielders (EM, n = 18), and forwards (FW,
n = 11). Positional data (GPS; 10 Hz Polar Team Pro) and HR responses were collected. HR<sub>mean</sub> and HR<sub>peak</sub> were 87%-89% and 98%-99% of HR<sub>max</sub>, for outfield
players, with no positional differences. CM, EM, and FB covered 8%-14% greater
(P < .001) match distances than CD. EM, FW, FB, and CM performed 40%-64%
more (P < .05) high-speed running and 41%-95% more (P < .01) very-high-speed
running (VHSR) than CD. From the first to the last 15-minute period, total distance,
except for FW, number of VHSR, except FB, peak speed and sum of accelerations
and sum of decelerations decreased (P < .05) for all outfield positions. In the most
intense 5-minute period, EM, FB, and CM performed 25%-34% more (P < .01) HSR
than CD, whereas EM, FW, and FB performed 36%-49% more (P < .01) VHSR than
CD. In conclusion, competitive elite female matches impose high physical demands
on all outfield playing positions, with high aerobic loading throughout matches and
marked declines in high-speed running and intense accelerations and decelerations
toward the end of games. Overall physical match demands are much lower for central
defenders than for the other outfield playing positions, albeit this difference is minimized in peak-intensity periods. | en_US |
dc.identifier.citation | Panduro J, Ermidis G, Røddik L, Vigh-Larsen JF, Madsen E, Larsen M, Pettersen SA, Krustrup P, Randers MB. Physical performance and loading for six playing positions in elite female football: full-game, end-game, and peak periods. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2022;32 :115-126 | en_US |