The purpose of this dissertation was to better understand position specific physical qualities and how they relate to high speed running performance throughout the course of a competitive collegiate soccer season. The amount of literature devoted to female soccer players is scarce when compared to the vast amount of literature associated with male soccer players. The objectives of this dissertation were: 1) to determine if playing position has an influence on physical qualities such as speed, change of direction ability, countermovement jump performance, relative strength, rate of force development, and intermittent endurance capacity, 2) investigate the differences between high and lower caliber players as defined by minutes played per match when considering the physical qualities mentioned previously, 3) and finally to assess the influence of physical qualities and playing position on high speed running performance throughout the course of a competitive season. Data from 57 Division I Women’s Collegiate soccer players from a single institution were used. The influence of playing position and caliber of play on physical qualities were assessed using both laboratory and field based testing assessments. It appears that attacking based players (forward, wide midfielder, and attacking midfielder) were faster compared to defensive based players (central defensive midfielder, central defender, and goalkeeper) when assessed during 20 m sprint assessments and change of direction ability assessments. The only variable to differentiate between caliber of play was the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test – Level 1 (YYIRT1), indicating that higher caliber players possess greater intermittent endurance capacity compared to lower caliber players. Playing position was the major contributor when assessing high speed running performance during competition, explaining almost 70% of the variance. These findings highlight the impact of tactical factors on physical performance during competition and the need for position based assessments to better identify relevant physical qualities with respect to playing position in Division I Women’s Collegiate Soccer players. Further research is needed with a wider range of players from various levels to determine if these findings exist across all levels or are unique to the institution used during these investigations.

Mätning av fotbollsspelares fysiska kapacitet har blivit allt vanligare och viktigare för att optimera spelarnas återhämtning och kapacitet, speciellt i slutet av matcherna i den så kallade kritiska fasen av en match. I dagens elitfotboll mäts spelarnas fysiska prestation med hjälp av global positioning systems (GPS). GPSerna har utvecklats enormt de senaste åren och kan i dag ta fram hundratals parametrar för tränare och spelare att analysera. På lägre nivåer finns inte samma möjligthet att använda GPSer, ofta på grund av eknomiska skäl, och fystester av olika sorter, bland annat agility T-test, används ofta för att mäta spelarnas fysiska kapacitet. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka om ett enkelt fystest, ett modifierat agility T-test (T3-test) korrelerar med fysiska matchparametrar inom fotbollen. Totalt i studien deltog 8 stycken manliga elitfotbollsspelare från ett svenskt seniorfotbollslag. Deltagarna bar STATSport Apex GPS-system en hel säsong, av vilket fem parametrars (total distans, höghastighetslöpningar, sprints, accelerationer och decelerationer) procentuella värde sista 15 minuterna i ordinarie matchtid (minut 75-90) i förhållande till hela matchens genomsnitt mättes och jämfördes sedan med deras prestation på T3-test. T3-testet utfördes i säsongens sista kvartal. Korrelationen analyerades genom Spearman’s rho korrelationsanalys. Resultatet från denna studie visade inga signifikanta korrelationer mellan de nämnda fysiska matchparametrarna och prestationen på T3-testet. Då studiens statistiska power var lågt på grund av otillräckligtdeltagarantalet, bör inga säkra slutsatser dras utifrån studiens resultat. Mer forskning av T3-test eller liknanden enkla fystester som prediktorer av fysisk matchkapacitet inom fotbollen krävs innan eventuell tillämpning i elitfotbollen bör säkerställas eller avvisas. / Measuring the physical capacity of football players has become more important in optimizing players' recovery and capacity, especially at the end of matches in the so-called critical phase of a match. In today's elite football, players' physical performance is measured using global positioning systems (GPS). The GPSs have developed enormously in recent years and can today produce hundreds of parameters for coaches and players to analyze. At lower levels, there is not the same possibility to use GPSs, often due to economic reasons, and fitness tests of various kinds, including agility T-test, are often used to measure players' physical capacity. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a simple fitness test, a modified agility T-test (T3-test) correlates with physical match parameters in football. A total of 8 male elite football players from a Swedish senior football team participated in the study. Participants wore the STATSport Apex GPS system for an entire season, of which five parameters (total distance, high-speed runs, sprints, accelerations and decelerations) percentage value in the last 15 minutes of regular match time (minutes 75-90) in relation to the entire match average were measured and compared with their performance on T3-test. The T3-test was performed in the last quarter of the season. The correlation was analyzed by Spearman's rho correlation analysis. The results from this study showed no significant correlations between the mentioned physical match parameters and the performance on the T3-test. As the statistical power of the study was low, due to insufficient number of participants, no definite conclusions should be drawn based on the results of the study.

The purpose of this dissertation is to shed light on the physical demands of women’s soccer at the NCAA division I college level. Though research does exists describing the physical demands of women’s soccer, the vast majority seeks to explain the physical demands association with the professional and international level. This dissertation sought to: 1) examine the physical demands of NCAA division I women’s soccer and 2) observe changes in physical demands of two NCAA division I women’s soccer players over a four-year career using a case study approach. Study 1 examined the physical demands of twenty-three athlete from a single NCAA division I team using Global Positioning System devices during four competitive seasons. Total distance, high-speed running distance and sprinting distances were analyzed for comparison against previously established physical demands associated with higher standards of play as well as for positional differences. Differences were found regarding total distance covered between standards of play. However, more pronounced differences were identified between high-speed running activities and standard of play, with higher standards requiring greater demands for high-intensity activities. Additionally, attacking players were demonstrated to cover greater total distance and high-intensity distance compared to the other position groups. Study 2 was a case study, observing seasonal variation in match physical demands of two high-level collegiate players during their 4-four college careers. Each player was tracked using GPS devices to record total distance, high-speed running distance and sprint distance. Seasonal variation in physical demands were found for each player, however, no consistent trends were found for both players. Interestingly, lower physical demands were identified during each player’s final season of play in comparison to all previous seasons, possibly demonstrating an increased tactical awareness resulting in improved playing efficiency. Nevertheless, future examination including additional data such as fitness testing results, tactical formations, and technical skill assessment are warranted. With little research available detailing the physical demands of women’s soccer at the division I collegiate level, our findings will provide further insight into the physical demands required for division I female players. By understanding the specific physical demands associated with competitive matches, as well as various positions, coaches and sports scientists can be equipped with objective data unique to women’s college soccer at the NCAA division I level. Our findings will empower practitioners with valuable information necessary to guide more informed decision making with regard to training structure and prescription, to enhance performance and minimize injury risks.