Assessment of Peak Physical Demands in Elite Women Soccer Players: Can Contextual Variables Play a Role?

Aim: To describe and compare the peak physical demands through the worst-case scenario method (WCS), according to different rolling average (RA) time epochs (i.e. 1 min, 3 min, and 5 min) and contextual variables in women soccer players.

Methods: Using an observational-comparative study design, an elite women soccer team from the Spanish 1^st league division was monitored during 27 matches. Nine WCS-dependent variables were assessed, including total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSR), sprint distance (SP), acceleration, and deceleration distance at different intensities by players position (i.e., central defenders [CD], wide defenders [WD], central midfielders [CM], wide midfielders [WM], forwards [F]), match half, location, and match outcome.

Results: The 1-min RA showed the lowest variability (CV = 9.8–65.8%) for all nine dependent variables. The WD presented the highest TD (168 ± 15.71 m/min). Differences between positions were observed for: CM<F (−10.19 m/min), CM<WM (−11.20 m/min), and CM<WD (−12.70 m/min). For SP: CM<F (−10.03 m/min), CM<WM (−11.91 m/min), CM<WD (−10.03 m/min), and CM<CD (−5.31 m/min). The WCS-dependent variables were also affected by match half and match outcome.

Conclusions: 1-min RA time epochs allow greater accuracy and reliability to identify nine key WCS outcomes in elite women soccer players. Different contextual variables, particularly player’s position, influenced the peak periods.