Abstract
This study determined the locomotor characteristics for youth female soccer matches.
89 female soccer players (U-15–U-17) were assessed during a youth national championship
or a talent identification camp using a Global Positioning System. Positional and
age-group comparisons of locomotor characteristics were made for complete games, each
half, differences between halves as well as sprint profiles using an ANCOVA adjusting
for the differences in game or half durations, respectively. Midfielders covered greater
distances (8 449±170 m) than defenders (7 779±114 m), mostly from more low- (2 553±99 m
vs. 2 151±66 m) and moderate-speed running (1 389±78 m vs. 1 142±52 m). Forwards had
more sprint distances (275±42 m), sprints (15±2) and greater maximum speed (26.7±0.6 km · h−1) than midfielders (131±24 m, 8±1, 24.7±0.4 km · h−1, respectively). There was a tendency for increased distances within most velocity
bands, workrate and sprints with increasing age. There was a greater increase in walking
and jogging between the first and second half for forwards than defenders and midfielders.
Youth female soccer players covered 6 500–9 000 m during matches with positional distinctions
that are comparable to elite-standard women. These data provide novel insight into
the physical demands of female youth soccer and should be used to establish appropriate
age-group and positional strategies for training and development.
Key words
female football - elite youth soccer - adolescents - non-differential GPS - motion
analysis
