Changes in female football players' in-season training load, intensity and physical performance: training progression matters more than accumulated load.

Introduction: This observational study investigated: (1) potential changes in female football players' in-season training load, intensity and physical performance, and (2) if in-season accumulated training load, intensity, or their progression are associated to changes in physical performance.

Methods: Thirty-five national level female players (∼21 years,  = 35) from three top-teams of the Finnish national league participated. Players performed tests at the beginning and at the end of the 27-week in-season.

Physical qualities and body composition predictors of running performance in national level women's official soccer matches.

The purpose of the study was to (1) determine match running performance, anthropometry and various physical qualities of national level women soccer players and (2) identify key physical qualities and anthropometric predictors of match running profile during a competitive season. Twenty-five national level Finnish soccer players participated in the study. Players performed countermovement jump, loaded squat jumps, 30-meter sprint, maximum isokinetic knee flexor and extensor contractions, an incremental treadmill test and underwent body composition assessment in the lab.