Fluid Ingestion and Soccer Performance in Female Players

Ajmol Ali

Prepared for Sport and Recreation New Zealand by Massey University

2007

Sport and Recreation New Zealand

Aj Ali

email: a.ali@massey.ac.nz

Women’s football (soccer) is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world and, due to the popularity of the game, soccer is also one of the more researched team sports. Historically though male participants were used for soccer research and the information was then extrapolated to females.

The aim of study one was to validate the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) for use with female players. The LSPT was able to distinguish various components of soccer performance between these groups thus confirming the validity of the test. The test was also found to possess greater reliability in the more elite group of players.

The aim of study two was to examine the effect of fluid ingestion on soccer skill and sprinting ability during prolonged high intensity intermittent exercise in female players. Although there was no benefit in terms of skill, fluid ingestion resulted in better sprint performance during exercise. Furthermore, the perception of effort during exercise was reduced following fluid ingestion.

The conclusions are that the LSPT can be used with a high degree of confidence for future research investigating skill performance in women’s soccer, and that fluid ingestion should be encouraged for female athletes during soccer.

Keywords:

Soccer performance; Women’s soccer

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Qualitative

Auckland

High performance, Sport

Women

Clubs

Organised, Professional, Semi-professional

Coaching, Performance, Professionals

Football (soccer)

1140

July 10, 2013

July 18, 2013