Physical fitness profiles of female Australian football players across five competition levels

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To examine physical fitness profiles of female Australian football players and investigate differences according to competition level.

Methods

A testing battery of 28 physical fitness assessments was undertaken with 240 players across five competition levels: elite senior (≥18 years), non-elite senior (≥18 years), high-level junior (<18 years), non-elite junior (14–17 years), and non-elite junior (10–13 years). Physical fitness profiles were examined and competition level differences were investigated using multivariate analyses of variance.

Results

Significant differences (p<0.001) were observed between competition levels in body composition (η²_p=0.225), flexibility (η²_p=0.071), muscular strength and endurance (η²_p=0.238), balance (η²_p=0.093), reaction time (η²_p=0.103), and whole-body locomotor performance (η²_p=0.200). Elite seniors and high-level juniors were stronger (p<0.001–0.043), faster (p=0.001–0.022), more responsive (p<0.001–0.048), and had better cardiorespiratory fitness (p<0.001) compared to the non-elite groups. Additionally, body composition and muscular strength and endurance differences were common between the senior and non-elite junior groups.

Conclusions

This is the first study to comprehensively profile physical characteristics of female Australian footballers across a broader development pathway. These preliminary findings may assist sport practitioners to better understand athlete development, provide insight on talent identification and development programs, and injury management in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Testing battery
• women
• long-term athlete development
• talent development

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Evelyne Rathbone for providing statistical guidance for this study. Additionally, the authors would like to thank the sport science and physiotherapy staff and students for their assistance in the data collection processes.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Availability of data and material

At the time of gaining ethical approval for this project, participants were assured that their data would be published only as de-identified data included together with the data of the other participants as collective results. Therefore, the raw data for individual participants cannot be shared publicly; thus, supporting data is not available.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. The sponsor had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or the preparation, review, and approval of the manuscript.