Sprint Endurance Abilities in Elite Female Soccer Players

Purpose: To profile sprint endurance performance of elite-level female soccer players. Methods: Twenty-five female national-team soccer players (age 25.1 [2.7] y, body mass 59.6 [3.6] kg, height 168.5 [4.1] cm) were tested for sprint endurance, performing 5 maximal sprints, interspersed with 30 seconds of active recovery (5 x 30 m) and a 30-second all-out shuttle run in a soccer pitch. The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (YYIR1) evaluated intermittent high-intensity endurance under the same field-testing conditions. Maximal anaerobic capacity was assessed while participants performed three 10-second allout bouts separated by 20 seconds of passive recovery (3 x 10 s) on a nonmotorized treadmill. Results: Huge interplayer variability was observed for sprint decrements in 3 x 10 seconds (coefficient of variation = 37%) and 5 x 30 m (coefficient of variation = 62%). The 3 x 10 performance was largely associated with 5 x 30-m mean and best time and very largely with 30 seconds. A very large and nearly perfect correlation was observed between 30 seconds and 5 x 30 m(Mean) (r = -.86) and 5 x 3 0 m(Best) (r = - .92), respectively. The YYIR1 was moderately to largely associated with 5 x 30-m variables and 30 seconds, respectively. A nearly perfect association was observed between 5 x 30 m(Best) and 5 x 3 0 m(Mean) (r= .97). Conclusions: Elite female soccer players' sprint endurance variables are characterized by remarkable variability. Associations between sprint endurance variables suggest physiological interdependence and a likelihood of a general ability in sustaining sprinting in this population.