A multi-club analysis of the locomotor training characteristics of elite female soccer players

Abstract

Objective: Quantifying differences in locomotor characteristics of training between two competition levels and between training days within elite female soccer players. Methods: Foot-mounted inertial measurement unit (Playermaker) data were collected from 293 players from three Women’s Super League (WSL; n = 76) and eight Women’s Championship (WC; n = 217) teams over a 28-week period. Data were analysed using partial least squares correlation analysis to identify relative variable importance and linear mixed effects models to identify magnitude of effects. Results: WSL players performed more high-speed running distance (HSR; >5.29 m∙s−1), sprint distance (SpD; >6.26 m∙s−1), acceleration (ACC; >3 m∙s−2) and deceleration (DEC;