Fitness testing and readiness practices among female football practitioners: a survey study
McQuilliam, Stephen, De keijzer, Kevin, Jeffries, Annie and Beato, Marco (2025) Fitness testing and readiness practices among female football practitioners: a survey study. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 20 (5). pp. 2031-2043. ISSN 2048-397X
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Abstract
Physical tests and subjective measures, such as readiness and wellness, aid in optimising training and recovery, however, many tools lack proper validation, risking inaccurate conclusions. This study explores physical testing and readiness practices in female football. A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among practitioners working with female footballers. The survey, consisting of five sections and 24 questions, examined three key areas: testing, wellness, and readiness. A total of 51 practitioners from professional, semi-professional, and academy levels completed the survey, detailing their use of testing and monitoring data. Strength, speed, and aerobic capacity were rated as “extremely important” for soccer performance. Strength and aerobic capacity were tested 2–3 times per season (41% and 59%, respectively), while speed was tested weekly (76%), often integrated with regular monitoring. Qualitative tools were used daily to assess wellness and readiness, with validated questionnaires (55% and 39%), self-developed questionnaires (43% and 37%), and informal conversations (37% and 41%) being the most common methods. Research on physical qualities in readiness is extensive, yet subjective measures are more widely used in practice, with significant variability in their application. Practitioners prioritize a player's “feel” over their readiness to “perform.”
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | aerobic capacity, athlete monitoring, recovery, speed, strength, wellness |
Subjects: | Q Science > QP Physiology |
Divisions: | The School of Health, Sciences and Society |
SWORD Depositor: | Pub Router |
Depositing User: | Pub Router |
Date Deposited: | 25 Sep 2025 10:42 |
Last Modified: | 25 Sep 2025 10:42 |
URI: | https://oars.uos.ac.uk/id/eprint/5133 |
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