Author(s): DANES-DAETZ, C., MORRIS, J., SUNDERLAND, C., PALMA, F., TOLFREY, K., BARRETT, L. , Institution: LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 2569

INTRODUCTION:
Research on male footballers has extensively described their physical development (anthropometric and performance) across age groups, whereas similar research on high-level female players remains limited. Understanding how these characteristics evolve in high-level female players as they age is essential for informing training prescriptions and performance management, and for understanding the route to, and requirements for, elite senior competition. Therefore, this study sought to examine whether differences existed across age groups in anthropometric and performance characteristics in high-level female footballers.
METHODS:
Ninety-nine players from a single high-level football club were assessed across five age categories: U12 (17 players, age 11.5 ± 0.5 years); U14 (19 players, age 13.6 ± 0.5 years); U16 (22 players, age 15.2 ± 0.4 years); U18 (17 players, age 16.9 ± 0.5 years); and senior (24 players, age 26.3 ± 4.3 years). For each player, maximal in-season values were recorded for anthropometric characteristics (stature and body mass) and performance tests, including 1000-m time trial (1000TT), maximal sprint velocity, countermovement jump (CMJ), and hamstring strength. Group differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc tests (p<0.05).
RESULTS:
Significant between-group differences were observed for all variables (p<0.05). U12 players were shorter and lighter than U14 players (stature, 153.8 ± 6.9 vs. 163.0 ± 3.8 cm, p<0.01; d=1.64–1.75; body mass 43.7 ± 8.9 vs. 57.7 ± 6.9 kg, p<0.01; d=1.64–1.75; respectively, mean ± SD). U12 players also demonstrated lower performance than U14 in maximal velocity (7.0 ± 0.3 m/s vs. 7.4 ± 0.5 m/s; p=0.03, d=0.97) and hamstring strength (216.0 ± 41.1 N vs. 263.9 ± 31.4; p=0.04, d=1.31). No significant differences were observed between U14, U16, and U18 groups. Compared with youth players, the senior team was taller than U12 and heavier than U12–U14 (p=0.03), but showed no anthropometric differences versus U16–U18. However, the senior squad outperformed all youth groups across all performance tests, including 1000TT (4.3 ± 0.2 m/s), maximum velocity (8.2 ± 0.3 m/s), CMJ (37.2 ± 3.9 cm) and hamstring strength (335.0 ± 66.8 N) (all p<0.01 vs. all other age groups; d=0.99–1.78).
CONCLUSION:
These findings demonstrate marked differences in early adolescence, relative stability across mid-to-late youth categories, and substantial performance gaps between youth and senior players. Progression through chronological age groups alone may not, in itself, elicit meaningful improvements in physical performance within high-level female footballers. Consequently, continuous monitoring and evaluation, and individualised training strategies are almost certainly necessary to support a successful transition into senior competition.