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Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(12): 966-972
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-109542
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Kicking Velocity and Effect on Match Performance When using a Smaller, Lighter Ball in Women’s Football

T. B. Andersen
1   Department of Public Health – Sport Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
,
P. Krustrup
2   Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Centre for Team Sport and Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
M. Bendiksen
2   Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Centre for Team Sport and Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
C. O. Orntoft
2   Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Centre for Team Sport and Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
M. B. Randers
3   Nutrition Exercise and Sports, University Cobehagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
S. A. Pettersen
4   School of Sport Sciences, University of Tromsoe, the Arctic University, Tromsoe, Norway
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 23 May 2016

Publication Date:
23 August 2016 (online)

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Abstract

The present study evaluated the effect of a smaller, lighter ball on kicking speed and technical-tactical and physical match performance in high-level adult female footballers. In the laboratory test setting, the peak ball velocity was 6% higher with the new ball (NB) than the standard ball (SB) (26.5±0.5 vs. 25.1±0.5 m·s−1, p<0.05). However, during match-play, no differences were observed in mean heart rate (87±5 vs. 87±5%HRmax; p>0.05), blood lactate (90 min: 4.7±1.7 and 4.0±1.7 mmol·l−1; p>0.05), total distance covered (10.6±0.9 and 10.4±0.8 km; p>0.05), intense running (>16 km/h) (2.08±0.42 and 1.94±0.38 km; p>0.05) and match-induced decrement in Yo-Yo IR1 performance (28 vs. 31%, respectively, p<0.05) using NB compared to SB. Likewise, no difference was observed in the number of short, medium-range or long passes during matches played with the 2 ball types, and there was no difference in passing success rate (NB: 68±1% and SB: 68±1%, p>0.05). In conclusion, high-level adult female footballers had a higher kicking speed when using a smaller, lighter ball, but no differences were observed during match-play with the 2 ball types in respect of technical-tactical and physical match performance. The physical loading was high for the players when playing with both ball types.

Key words

ball velocity - heart rate - lactate - locomotor activities - passes - success rate
 

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