Positional characteristics of physical performance in Division I college female soccer players.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigation was to determine and compare positional characteristics (physical and physiological) of Division I college female soccer players.


METHODS
Sixty-four university soccer players volunteered to participate and were evaluated at the end of their spring season. Test items included height and body mass, acceleration (9.14 m), speed (18.28 and 36.58 m), agility (Pro-agility and Illinois), lower body power (countermovement jump), and estimated aerobic capacity (20 meter beep test).


RESULTS
Mean (+/-SD) height and body mass were 168.4+/-5.9 cm and 64.8+/-5.9 kg, respectively. No significant differences were observed between positions, however defenders and keepers tended to be taller and heavier compared to forwards and midfielders. Positional differences did not appear for any of the other performance tests. Yet, defenders tended to show slightly slower times for the speed and agility tests while keepers tended to be slower on the agility tests compared to forwards and midfielders. Aerobic capacity was similar across the four positions.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar physical and physiological characteristics were found within this sample of Division I female college soccer players.
Vescovi
J D
JD
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, 06269-1110, USA. vescovij@aol.com
Brown
T D
TD
Murray
T M
TM
D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*