Changes in female football players' in-season training load, intensity and physical performance: training progression matters more than accumulated load

• Main Authors: Eero H. J. Savolainen (Author), Johanna K. Ihalainen (Author), Tomi Vänttinen (Author), Simon Walker (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2624-9367; 10.3389/fspor.2024.1454519
• Keywords: soccer; women; periodization; fitness; monitoring; Sports; GV557-1198.995
• Source: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Vol 6 (2024)

IntroductionThis observational study investigated: (1) potential changes in female football players' in-season training load, intensity and physical performance, and (2) if in-season accumulated training load, intensity, or their progression are associated to changes in physical performance.MethodsThirty-five national level female players (∼21 years, n = 35) from three top-teams of the Finnish national league participated. Players performed tests at the beginning and at the end of the 27-week in-season. Tests were: 30-m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ) and 1,200-m shuttle run, used to calculate maximal aerobic speed (MAS). Players' external and internal training load and intensity were monitored in all on-field training sessions and official matches (3,941 data samples) using Polar Team Pro system.ResultsTraining load decreased towards the end of the in-season (p < 0.05), but intensity remained stable. No changes in physical performance test results occurred from before to after in-season tests at a group level. Change of CMJ correlated negatively with accumulated training load, intensity and progression of total distance (TD) and low-intensity running distance (LIRD) (r = −0.398 to −0.599, p < 0.05). Instead, development of MAS correlated positively with progression of TD and LIRD intensities (r = 0.594 and 0.503, p < 0.05). Development of both CMJ and MAS correlated positively with intensity progression of very-high-intensity running distance (VHIRD) and number of accelerations and decelerations (r = 0.454-0.588, p < 0.05).DiscussionReduced training load over the in-season is not detrimental for players' physical performance when training intensity progressively increases. Intensity progression of VHIRD, moderate- and high-intensity accelerations and decelerations are indicators of both MAS and CMJ development, respectively.