David Martinez Hernandez
Enhancement of Change of Direction Performance in Professional Female Soccer Players
Martinez Hernandez, David
Authors
Contributors
Adam Galpin
Supervisor
Abstract
The ability to rapidly change direction is believed to be a key physical quality for soccer players and commonly forms part of testing batteries performed by soccer teams. While whole match analysis shows that numerous changes of direction are performed during the game, there is limited research assessing the impact of these on key moments such as goal-scoring actions. Moreover, while numerous researchers have investigated the different methods to enhance change of direction (COD) performance, there is yet no clear evidence of the most effective practice for the improvement of COD ability. This gap in research is particularly concerning in elite female soccer players. Therefore, the understanding of which CODs are more common in key moments of the game and training interventions that can improve this physical ability would be of great interest to practitioners working in soccer.
The primary aims of this thesis are: 1. To identify the movements and combination of them that occur before a goal in male and female professional elite soccer. 2. Determine which of these are considered as COD actions and how often they are involved in goal-scoring situations. 3. Investigate which speed, jump and strength tests correlate with relevant COD tests. 4. Examine the effects of a specific training intervention to improve COD performance in elite soccer players.
The aim of study 1 (Chapter 4) was to analyse the most common movements prior to a goal in the English Premier League (EPL) and Women’s Super league (WSL) through video analysis. Linear advancing motion followed by deceleration and turn showed to be the most common movements preceding a goal, with these three movements commonly following a certain cycle. Although players followed similar trends, there were dissimilarities based on their role. Finally, COD actions showed to be highly frequent in goal-scoring situations.
The aim of study 2 (Chapter 5) was to assess within-session reliability of different tests measuring speed, COD, jump [countermovement jump (CMJ), single leg (SL) CMJ, drop jump (DJ), SL DJ and SL broad jump (BJ)] and strength tests [flywheel squat concentric strength (FSCS), flywheel squat eccentric strength (FSES), Nordic hamstring eccentric strength (NHES) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP)] in 11 elite female soccer players (age 26.6 ±4.8 years, height 166 ±6.8 cm, body mass 61.6 ±5.2 kg). Results revealed moderate to excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and low coefficient of variation (CVs) in all tests except for the 5-m split and 505 test to the right (ICC = 0.47 and 0.49, respectively) as well as FSCS (CV = 24.1%) and FSES (CV = 18.8%).
The aim of study 3 (Chapter 6) was to assess whether speed, jump and strength tests had a relation with COD performance in 26 female elite soccer players (age 25.1 ±5.7 years, height 166 ±5.5 cm, body mass 62.8 ±5 kg). Speed showed low to moderate correlations with COD tests (r= 0.14 - 0.49). SL CMJ, CMJ and SL BJ showed moderate to large correlations with 505 COD test (-0.3 to -0.6) and low to moderate correlations with 75-90° COD test (r= -0.15 to -0.49). DJ and SL DJ showed trivial to very large and trivial to large correlations with 505 COD (r= -0.05 to -0.71) and 75-90° COD (r= -0.07 to 0,67), respectively. IMTP and FSES showed large (r= -0.53 to -0.68) and moderate correlations (r= -0.31 to -0.46) with 505 COD test, respectively, while only showing moderate (r= -0.36 to -0.44) and low correlations (r= -0.1 to -0.27) with 75-90° COD test, respectively.
The aim of study 4 (Chapter 7) was to compare two distinct training programs designed for attackers and defenders to improve position-specific COD performance (COD 505 test and COD 75-90°). Elite female soccer players were divided into a control group (CG), a defender group (DG) and an attacker group (AG). Only DG improved pre- to post-test performance on the 505 COD tests. Fast performers in DF and AG showed no improvements in all COD tests, while slow performers in DG showed large to very large improvements in the COD 505 test, with slow performers in AG showing moderate to large improvements in the COD 75-90° test.
Overall, these studies help to provide further insight into the most common COD actions performed in goal-scoring situations and how these vary based on the player’s role. In addition, it assists in appropriate test selection and in the development of COD-specific programs (pitch and gym) based on the player’s role.
Thesis Type | Thesis |
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Online Publication Date | May 29, 2025 |
Deposit Date | May 22, 2025 |
Publicly Available Date | Jun 30, 2025 |
Award Date | May 29, 2025 |
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