The Physical Match Running Demands of Canadian International Women's Soccer

Cormier, P, Mavignier, B, Geneau, D, and Werle, C. The physical match running demands of Canadian international women's soccer. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-This study examined position-specific match running demands across youth to senior Canadian female national team soccer players to establish normative data to inform physical performance preparation. External load match running data were collected via Catapult global navigation satellite sensors from 88 outfield players participating in the women's national team pathway (under 17, under 20, and senior levels [WNTU17, WNTU20, and WNT, respectively]). Linear mixed models (level × position) were performed to investigate position-specific differences between international pathway levels. Concerning center backs, WNT players covered greater total distance and distance·min-1 than WNTU20 and greater distance·min-1 than WNTU17 players, and greater high deceleration efforts than WNTU17 and WNTU20 levels (effect size [ES] = 1.12-1.90, p ≤ 0.02). Regarding fullbacks, WNTU17 players performed fewer high accelerations and decelerations (total efforts and efforts·min-1) than WNT players (ES = 1.03-2.59, p ≤ 0.04). For forwards, WNTU17 players displayed lower maximum velocity expression (ES = 1.00, p = 0.04) than WNT. Concerning, midfielders, both WNTU17 and WNTU20 players performed lower distance·min-1, high-intensity running distance and m·min-1, high-speed running distance and m·min-1, and maximum velocity than WNT players. In addition, WNTU20 had lower sprint distance and m·min-1, high-intensity acceleration·min-1, and deceleration efforts (ES = 0.76-2.44, p ≤ 0.03) than WNT players. These results highlight key differences between national team pathway levels. Finally, these data highlight areas to target in the physical preparation of youth international players for the demands of top-level soccer.