Benchmarking the Physical Performance Qualities in Women's Football: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Across the...

There is a lack of data and its systematic organisation relating to the physical performance qualities of women's football players across the performance scale (i.e. level of competition categorised into unique tiers).

(1) To establish meta-analytic estimates for select assessment protocols across seven physical qualities (cardiorespiratory fitness, sprint time, acceleration time, change of direction, lower limb power, lower limb strength, and maximal velocity), and (2) to investigate the moderating effect of participant tier; collectively providing normative benchmarking data.

A systematic literature search of four databases (Pubmed, SportDiscuss, Scopus, and Web of Science) for studies published between 2003 and 2023 was conducted, with a secondary search for studies published until August 2024. Studies were considered for inclusion if they were published in English, the population was female football players with a minimum mean age of 16 years and the studies reported descriptive data from selected testing protocols. All study designs were eligible, excluding acute interventions such as training or supplementation. Performance scale (i.e. participant tier) of the study participants was categorised into four distinct levels (Tier 2 to Tier 5) using a modified version of the Participant Classification Framework, with Tier 5 representing world-class athletes. Study risk of bias assessment was conducted using an adapted version of the Downs and Black tool. Means and standard deviations were analysed using mixed-effects, multilevel hierarchical models to obtain pooled estimates, 90% confidence intervals (CIs) and prediction intervals (PIs). Meta-regression of modifying effects for participant tier was conducted, and comparisons were expressed as standardised mean differences.

The final dataset included 1855 estimates from 982 groups across 288 studies. The moderating effect of participant tier was assessed where adequate data permitted. Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRL1) demonstrated moderate-to-large improvements when progressing from Tier 2 to Tiers 4 and 5 (combined; [b = 170 to 354 m]); similar improvements were observed for velocity attained during the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test when directly comparing Tier 2 to Tiers 4 and 5 (b = 2.5 km·h^-1). Sprint time decreased when progressing between tiers, with a moderate-to-large reduction for both 20 m (b =  - 0.17 to - 0.22 s) and 30 m (b =  - 0.32 to - 0.47 s) time when comparing Tier 2 with Tier 3 and Tiers 4 and 5, respectively. Moderate-to-large improvements in jump height were observed for squat jump (SJ; restricted arm movement) between participant tiers (b = 3.6 to 6.2 cm) and similarly for countermovement jump (CMJ) when comparing Tier 3 with Tiers 4 and 5 for restricted (b = 3.3 cm) and unrestricted arm movement (b = 8.8 cm).

Normative benchmarks that are useful for athlete profiling and development, talent identification, and training program design have been established from a very large sample of studies and athletes. These findings highlight the role of sprinting ability, lower limb power and intermittent aerobic capacity in differentiating athletes across the performance scale. Field-based tests, particularly those assessing intermittent fitness, demonstrated the greatest difference in performance between each of the participant tiers, suggesting that these pragmatic tests are effective at capturing the physical performance of women's football players. A limitation of this study is the variability introduced by the heterogeneity across studies in testing protocols, sample sizes and competition levels, which may have influenced the results.

Prospective protocol registration can be found in Open Science Framework and is available through: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8W3JH .