Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between body composition and in-game physical performance measures in female collegiate soccer players. Body composition measures including total mass, fat mass, and lean tissue mass, both for the lower extremities and for total body were acquired in 10 players using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. In-game physical performance measures were collected using global positioning system (GPS) devices and included total distance covered and distance covered in 6 different speed zones. Data from fourteen regular season games were analyzed over the 1st half, 2nd half, and entire game. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Players covered less distance in the 2nd half compared to the 1st half of the game (3356.5±1211.7m vs. 4544.7±495.2m, p=0.004). A repeated measures ANOVA revealed decreases in distance covered jogging, at low-intensity running, and at moderate-intensity running during the 2nd half compared to the 1st half of the game (p<0.001). Lower measures of total body fat mass, total body fat percentage and lower extremities fat mass were correlated to covering more distance at moderate-intensity and high-intensity running during the 2nd half and as well as the whole game (r values from -.644 to -.745, p values from <0.01 to 0.04). Our results suggest that body composition can influence the distance covered at moderate- and high-intensity running speed during competitive games. Training strategies that help reduce excess fat mass and incorporate high-intensity training bouts may be beneficial for female soccer players and contribute to overall team success.