Physical qualities and body composition predictors of running performance in national level women's official soccer matches.

The purpose of the study was to (1) determine match running performance, anthropometry and various physical qualities of national level women soccer players and (2) identify key physical qualities and anthropometric predictors of match running profile during a competitive season. Twenty-five national level Finnish soccer players participated in the study. Players performed countermovement jump, loaded squat jumps, 30-meter sprint, maximum isokinetic knee flexor and extensor contractions, an incremental treadmill test and underwent body composition assessment in the lab. Match running performance was analyzed from 115 match observations during competitive league matches over 11 weeks after the laboratory tests. Pearson's correlation was used to determine bivariate relationships between match running variables and physical qualities and anthropometric variables. Identified significant bivariate relationships were then entered into multiple regression analyses to identify the best predictors of match running performance. Physical qualities and anthropometric variables predicted 65% of very high-intensity (VHIR) (> 19 km/h) and 63% of high-intensity (HIR) (13-19 km/h) running distances covered during matches, but only 22% of low-intensity (LIR) and 43% of total distances. Body fat percentage and high-speed knee flexor concentric strength were the most important predictors to VHIR and HIR while aerobic capacity-related variables were most important predictors to LIR and total distance. Physical qualities and anthropometry can predict a large portion of players' VHIR and HIR performance during matches in women's national level soccer. To increase player's VHIR and HIR distance, coaches could aim to develop players' high-speed (especially knee flexor concentric) strength and optimize player's body composition.

Position specific physical demands in different phases of competitive matches in national level women's football.

The purpose of the present study was twofold: to investigate position-specific physical match demands of national level women's football; and to examine if demands change during a match (comparison between first and second half and in 15-minute intervals). Seven teams from the Finnish National League participated in the study. Eighty-five players met the inclusion criteria, and a total of 340 individual match observations from 68 individual matches were included for analysis. The Polar Team Pro -player tracking system (with 10 Hz GPS units, including 200 Hz tri-axial accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and HR monitor) was used to assess positional data and HR response of the players. This study demonstrated that women's national level football matches place a range of physical demands on players, which in general were highest for wide midfielders, and lowest for central defenders. Wide midfielders and forwards performed significantly more 'very high-speed' running, sprinting, accelerations, and decelerations than other outfield positions (p < 0.05). HRmean varied from 84-87% of HRmax and was significantly lower for central defenders than central midfielders (p < 0.001). External load variables varied during a match and generally decreased especially after 60 minutes of play compared to first 15-min period of the match. Present study showed that national level women football players' positional differences in match demands are similar to those reported with elite players in previous studies. On national level, players' physical performance tended to decrease towards the end of the match, especially in terms of total distance (~10%), high-speed running (~20%), and decelerations (~20%).

A post-exercise infrared sauna session improves recovery of neuromuscular performance and muscle soreness after resistance exercise training.

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of a single infrared sauna (IRS) session on post-exercise recovery of neuromuscular performance, autonomic nervous system function, subjective sleep quality, and muscle soreness. Male basketball players (n = 16) performed two trials consisting of a complex resistance exercise protocol (maximal strength with plyometrics), followed by either 20 min passive recovery (PAS) or IRS (temperature 43 ± 5°C), in a randomized crossover design, with trials separated by one week. Recovery of neuromuscular performance was assessed using 20 m maximal sprint, maximal countermovement-jump (CMJ), and isometric leg press tests, performed 14 hours after exercise. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), sleep diary, muscle soreness, and indirect muscle damage markers were measured pre and post exercise. The decrease in CMJ performance from pre- to post-exercise was attenuated after IRS compared to PAS (p < 0.01). The IRS session resulted in higher HR and lower root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD), and high and low frequency power, compared to PAS (p < 0.002). Post-exercise night-time HR and HRV did not differ following IRS vs. PAS. Muscle soreness was less severe, and perceived recovery was higher after IRS compared to PAS (p < 0.01). Post-exercise IRS attenuated the drop in explosive performance and decreased subjective muscle soreness after resistance training, which may enhance mood, readiness, and physical performance of an athlete. A single IRS session had no detrimental effects on recovery of the autonomic nervous system.