Comparison of physical match demands for female Danish national team players across playing position and how these change from youth to adult
Authors
Rasmussen, Mathias Hesthaven ; Gitz-Johansen, Bertram
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2023
Abstract
This study examines how physical match demands differ by playing position and from youth (U17, U19) to senior level among Danish female national team players. We analyzed GPS-based performance data from all official international matches between January 2020 and March 2023, including players with at least 75 minutes played (250 observations). Comparisons across positions (center back, full back, central midfielder, wide midfielder, forward) and age groups used per-minute metrics for distance, top speed, sprints, accelerations and decelerations, and distance in higher speed zones (15+, 18+ and 25+ km/h), tested with one-way ANOVA. Results indicate a general rise in physical demands from U17 to U19 and senior, with the largest increase from U17 to U19, especially in accelerations and decelerations per minute. Attacking roles (wide midfielders and forwards) performed more high-intensity decelerations and covered more high-speed distance than central and defensive roles (center backs and central midfielders); at 25+ km/h this difference was most evident for wide midfielders. In conclusion, the transition to U19 entails a marked increase in demands, and training and load management should be tailored to both age and position, with wide and attacking players expected to perform more high-speed work than central and defensive players.
Formålet med dette studie er at undersøge, hvordan de fysiske kampkrav varierer mellem positioner og fra ungdom (U17, U19) til senior hos kvindelige danske landsholdsspillere. Vi analyserede GPS-baserede kampdata fra alle officielle landskampe fra januar 2020 til marts 2023 og inkluderede spillere, der spillede mindst 75 minutter (i alt 250 observationer). Vi sammenlignede på tværs af positioner (centerforsvar, back, central midtbane, kant, angriber) og aldersgrupper ved hjælp af minut-normaliserede mål for distance, topfart, antal sprints, accelerationer og decelerationer samt distance i højere hastighedszoner (15+, 18+ og 25+ km/t) med envej-ANOVA. Resultaterne viser en generel stigning i fysiske krav fra U17 til U19 og senior, med den største stigning fra U17 til U19, særligt i antal accelerationer og decelerationer pr. minut. Angrebsorienterede roller (kant og angriber) udførte flere højintense decelerationer og tilbagelagde mere distance ved høj hastighed end centrale og defensive spillere (centerforsvar og central midtbane); ved 25+ km/t gjaldt dette især for kantspillere. Konklusionen er, at fysiske krav øges markant i overgangen til U19, og at træning og loadstyring bør tilpasses både alder og position, hvor wide og offensive spillere forventes at kunne udføre mere højhastighedsarbejde end centrale og defensive.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]