(51) PROFESSIONAL vs. ELITE FEMALE SOCCER ATHLETES: PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Introduction: With the recent rise in professional female soccer players, there is an increased need to understand what aspects of performance are most important for training and success at this level.

Purpose: To explore physical and technical female-specific variables that predict a successful transition to the professional level after a Division I (DI) collegiate career.

Methods: Thirty-nine NCAA DI women’s soccer athletes (mean±SD; Age= 20.3±1.3 yrs; Height=166.6±5.9 cm; Weight=63.9±6.5 kg; BF%=23.1±4.2%) physical and technical tests prior to the beginning of each competitive season (2018-2023). The sample was divided into players that successfully transition to a professional career after college (n=27) and players who finished their elite career in college (n=16). Athletic performance was evaluated by the Yo-yo Intermittent Fitness Test Level 1 (YYIFTL1; m), 10m sprint (ACC; m/s), 30m sprint (MS; m/s), Illinois Agility Test (IAT; sec) and vertical jump (VJ; in). Technical testing assessed serve distance (SD) and accuracy (ACU; au), receiving (REC; au), heading for distance (HD; yd), shooting power (SP; mph) and figure 8’s (F8; sec), measured on a 0–3-point scale, with the higher number being the best outcome for each test. Body composition was measured using a whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan to evaluate fat-free mass index (FFMI; kg/m²) and bone mineral density (BMD; g/cm²). A binomial generalized linear model was used to ascertain the effects of physical and technical variables on the likelihood of playing at the professional level after college.

RESULTS: Of all the physical and technical predictors, MS [odds ratio (OR): 673.64, b: 6.51, p=0.017] and right SP (OR: 1.40, b: 0.34, p=0.014] were statistically significant. The model with these variables (Deviance Goodness of Fit: p=0.54) explained 50% (Nagelkerke < ![if !msEquation] >< ![if !vml] >< ![endif] >< ![endif] >) of the variance in professional status outcome and correctly classified professional status in 59% of cases. Players that compete at the professional level after college had a significantly higher MS (mean difference ± SE [professional-elite]: 0.2±0.1 m/s; p=0.004) and right SP (3.6±1.3 mph; p=0.004). Other significant differences were found in left SD (0.6±0.3 au; p=0.021), YYIFTL1 (332±76 m; p< 0.001) and IAT (-0.4±0.1 sec; p< 0.001). There were no significant body composition differences (total group mean±SD: FFMI:17.8±1.3 kg/m², BMD: 1.2±0.1 g/cm²).

Conclusion: The strongest predictors of professional status in this cohort were MS and SP, which provides initial evidence-based performance targets for collegiate female athletes with professional aspirations. Players that make it to the professional stage had better left SD, YYIFTL1, and IAT scores compared to collegiate players who did not make it to the professional level. The sample is in the 40th FFMI percentile for collegiate female soccer athletes; understanding normative FFMI and BMD values may provide healthy benchmarks for aspiring soccer players.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A MS of 6.9±0.2 m/s and right leg SP of 60.9±3.7 mph seem to be realistic targets for elite soccer players that want to play at the professional level. A collaboration with the professional league to understand physical and athletic qualities in professional female players is a promising tool to set physical and technical targets needed for optimal elite player development.

Acknowledgements: None