Comparison of MSS, MAS, and ASR Performance Indicators Among Female Football Players Across League Levels in Türkiye

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17014072%20

Keywords:

Female Football, Soccer, MSS, MAS, ASR

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the maximum sprint speed (MSS), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), and anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) of female football players competing in Türkiye’s Super League (Division 1) and Second League (Division 3), highlighting differences in physical performance across competition levels.

Methods: A total of 28 female players (mean age 24.5±6.47) participated (Super League: 14, Second League: 14). MSS was measured via a 40-meter sprint test, MAS was assessed with the 30-15 IFT, and ASR was calculated as the difference between MSS and MAS. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test due to non-normal distribution (p < 0.05).

Results: Super League players demonstrated significantly higher values in MSS (30.31 ± 1.94 km/h), MAS (16.05 ± 0.6 km/h), and ASR (14.25 ± 1.93 km/h) compared to Second League players (MSS: 22.56 ± 0.92; MAS: 13.6 ± 0.9; ASR: 8.97 ± 1.35) (p < 0.001 for all). The effect sizes were also substantial (r = -1.00).

Conclusion: Higher league levels in women’s football are associated with greater anaerobic and aerobic performance capacities. These findings emphasize the physical demands and training needs of elite-level female footballers.

References

Alahmad TA, Kearney P, Cahalan R. Injury in elite women’s soccer: A systematic review. Phys Sportsmed. 2020; 48(3): 259-265.

Ali, A. (2011). Measuring soccer skill performance: a review. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 21(2), 170-183.

Baker, D., & Heaney, N. (2015). Review of the literature normative data for maximal aerobic speed for field sport athletes: a brief review. J Aust Strength Cond, 23(7), 60-67.

Bradley, P. S., Carling, C., Diaz, A. G., Hood, P., Barnes, C., Ade, J., ... & Mohr, M. (2013). Match performance and physical capacity of players in the top three competitive standards of English professional soccer. Human movement science, 32(4), 808-821

Bradley, P. S., Dellal, A., Mohr, M., Castellano, J., ve Wilkie, A. (2014). Gender differences in match performance characteristics of soccer players competing in the UEFA Champions League. Hum. Mov. Sci., 33, 159–171.

Buchheit M, Laursen PB. High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle: Part I: cardiopulmonary emphasis. Sports Med. 2013 May;43(5):313-38. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0029-x. PMID: 23539308.

Buchheit M. Repeated-sprint performance in team sport players: associations with measures of aerobic fitness, metabolic control and locomotor function. Int J Sports Med. 2012 Mar;33(3):230-9. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1291364. Epub 2012 Jan 30. PMID: 22290323.

Buchheit, M. ,The 30-15 intermittent fitness test: accuracy for individualizing interval training of young intermittent sport players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2008,, 22(2), 365-374.

Buchheit, M., Simpson, B. M., Hader, K., & Lacome, M. (2021). Occurrences of near-to-maximal speed-running bouts in elite soccer: insights for training prescription and injury mitigation. Science and Medicine in Football, 5(2), 105-110.

Bundle MW, Hoyt RW, Weyand PG. High-speed running performance: a new approach to assessment and prediction. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2003 Nov;95(5):1955-62. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00921.2002. PMID: 14555668.

Chmura P, Konefał M, Chmura J, Kowalczuk E, Zajac T, Rokita A, et al. Match outcome and running performance in different intensity ranges among elite soccer players. Biol Sport. (2018) 35(2):197–203. doi: 10.5114/biolsport. 2018.74196

Choice, E., Tufano, J., Jagger, K., Hooker, K., & Cochrane-Snyman, K. C. (2022). Differences across Playing Levels for Match-Play Physical Demands in Women’s Professional and Collegiate Soccer: A Narrative Review. Sports, 10(2), 35.

Clancy, C., Fenwick, M., Owen, A., Gilfillan, A., Duffie, K. (2024). A comparison of men’s and women’s physical performance assessed using an identical profiling protocol in professional soccer: Considerations for targeted S&C. Sports Performance & Science Reports. 220. V1.

Clancy, C., Owen, A., Gilfillan, A., Duffie, K., Weston, M. (2023). Comparative analysis of the anaerobic speed reserve in professional soccer: 1st team vs. Development team. Sports Performance & Science Reports. 190. V1.

Çıkıkcı, A., Ozan Gülez, & Kayhan, R. F. (2024). Examining the Relationship Between Sprint and Endurance Performances, Distances Covered During the Season, Positional Roles, and Success in Women’s Football Players. Journal of Athletic Performance and Sports Medicine, 1(1), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14581157

Datson, N., Hulton, A., Andersson, H., Lewis, T., Weston, M., Drust, B., & Gregson, W. (2014). Applied physiology of female soccer: an update. Sports medicine, 44, 1225-1240.

Del Rosso, S., Nakamura, F.Y., Boullosa, D.A (2016): Heart rate recovery after aerobic and anaerobic tests: is there an influence of anaerobic speed reserve? Journal of Sports Sciences. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1166391.

Di Salvo, V., Pigozzi, F., Gonzalez-Haro, C., Laughlin, M. S., & De Witt, J. K. (2013). Match performance comparison in top English soccer leagues. International journal of sports medicine, 34(06), 526-532

Fernandes, R., Ceylan, H. İ., Clemente, F. M., Brito, J. P., Martins, A. D., Nobari, H., Reis, V. M., & Oliveira, R. (2022). In-Season Microcycle Quantification of Professional Women Soccer Players—External, Internal and Wellness Measures. Healthcare, 10(4), 695. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10040695

Fessi MS, Zarrouk N, Di Salvo V, Filetti C, Barker AR, Moalla W. Effects of tapering on physical match activities in professional soccer players. J Sports Sci. 2016 Dec;34(24):2189-2194. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1171891. Epub 2016 Apr 11. PMID: 27065344.

Gentles, J. A., Coniglio, C. L., Besemer, M. M., Morgan, J. M., & Mahnken, M. T. (2018). The Demands of a Women’s College Soccer Season. Sports, 6(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6010016

Gledhill, A., Harwood, C., and Forsdyke, D. (2017). Psychosocial factors associated with talent development in football: a systematic review. Psychol. Sport Exerc. 31, 93–112. doi: 10.1007/s40279-017-0851-7

Harkness-Armstrong A, Till K, Datson N, Emmonds S. Influence of match status and possession status on the physical and technical characteristics of elite youth female soccer match-play. J Sports Sci. 2023 Aug 3; 41(15):1437–49.

Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N., Myhill, N., & Emmonds, S. (2022). A systematic review of match-play characteristics in women’s soccer. PloS one, 17(6), e0268334.

Haugen, T.A.; Tønnessen, E.; Hem, E.; Leirstein, S.; Seiler, S. VO2max Characteristics of Elite Female Soccer Players, 1989–2007. Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform. 2014, 9, 515–521.

Joel, B., Luis, V., Hugo, S., Eduardo, Z., Alejandro, P., Rodrigo, V. (2022). Comparison of aerobic performance and body composition according to game position and its relationship between variables in professional women's soccer players. Journal of Physical Education and Sport. 22(10). 2281 – 2288.

Krustrup, P, Mohr, M, Ellingsgaard, H, and Bangsbo, J. Physical demands during an elite female soccer game: importance training status. Med Sci Sport Exerc 37: 1242–1208, 2005.

McCormack, W.P., Hoffman, J.R., Pruna, G.J., Scanlon, T.C., Bohner, J.D., Townsend, J.R., Jajtner, A.R., Stout, J.R., Fragala, M.S., Fukuda, D.H. (2015). Reduced High Intensity Running Rate in College Women’s Soccer When Games Are Separated by 42 Hours. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 10. 436–439. [CrossRef]

McCurdy KW, Walker JL, Langford GA, Kutz MR, Guerrero JM, McMillan J. The relationship between kinematic determinants of jump and sprint performance in division I women soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2010 Dec;24(12):3200-8. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181fb3f94. PMID: 21068677.

Mendez-Villanueva A, Buchheit M, Simpson BM, Bourdon PC. Match play intensity distribution in youth soccer. Int J Sports Med. 2013;34(2):101–110; doi: 10.1055/s0032-1306323.

Milanović, Z., Sporiš, G., James, N., Trajković, N., Ignjatović, A., Sarmento, H., ... & Mendes, B. M. B. (2017). Physiological demands, morphological characteristics, physical abilities and injuries of female soccer players. Journal of human kinetics, 60(1), 77-83.

Mohr, M., Krustrup, P., Andersson, H., Kirkendal, D., Bangsbo, J. (2008). Match Activities of Elite Women Soccer Players at Different Performance Leveles. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 22(2). 341–349.

O'Reilly J, Wong SH. The development of aerobic and skill assessment in soccer. Sports Med. 2012 Dec 1;42(12):1029-40. doi: 10.2165/11635120-000000000-00000. PMID: 23046223.

Okholm Kryger, K., Wang, A., Mehta, R., Impellizzeri, F. M., Massey, A., & McCall, A. (2021). Research on women’s football: a scoping review. Science and Medicine in Football, 6(5), 549–558. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2020.1868560

Olmedilla A, Ruiz-Barquín R, Ponseti FJ, Robles-Palazón FJ and García-Mas A (2019) Competitive Psychological Disposition and Perception of Performance in Young Female Soccer Players. Front. Psychol. 10:1168. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01168

Olmedilla, A., Ortega, E., Robles-Palazón, F. J., Salom, M., and García-Mas, A. (2018a). Healthy practice of female soccer and futsal: identifying sources of stress, anxiety and depression. Sustainability 10:2268. doi: 10.3390/su10072268

Olson, J. R. (2008). VO₂peak and running economy in female collegiate soccer players across a competitive season.

Ortiz, J. G., Teixeira, A. S., Mohr, P. A., Salvador, P. C. D. N., Cetolin, T., Guglielmo, L. G. A., & de Lucas, R. D. (2018). The anaerobic speed reserve of high-level soccer players: a comparison based on the running speed profile among and within playing positions. Human Movement Special Issues, 2018(5), 65-72.

Ozkamcı, H., Zileli, R., Diker, G., Soyler, M., Bayrakdaroglu, S. (2021). Investigation of Some Performance Parameters of Professional Football Players According to Game Regions. Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences. 15(10).

Öztürk, B., Engin, H., Kurt, Y. & Ilkım, M. (2023). Comparison of maximal sprint speed, maximal aerobic speed, anaerobic speed reserve and Vo2max results according to the positions of amateur football players: Experimental study. Journal of Education and Recreation Patterns (JERP). Vol 4 (2). 692-703. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53016/jerp.v4i2.168.

Pedersen, A. V., Lorås, H., Norvang, O. P., & Asplund, J. (2014). Measuring soccer technique with easy-to-administer field tasks in female soccer players from four different competitive levels. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 119(3), 961-970.

Rampinini, E., Impellizzeri, F. M., Castagna, C., Coutts, A. J., & Wisløff, U. (2009). Technical performance during soccer matches of the Italian Serie A league: Effect of fatigue and competitive level. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 12(1), 227-233.

Randell, R. K., Clifford, T., Drust, B., Moss, S. L., Unnithan, V. B., De Ste Croix, M. B., ... & Rollo, I. (2021). Physiological characteristics of female soccer players and health and performance considerations: a narrative review. Sports Medicine, 51, 1377-1399.

Reilly, T. (2005). Training specificity for soccer. International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences, 17(2).

Russell, M., & Kingsley, M. (2011). Influence of exercise on skill proficiency in soccer. Sports Medicine, 41, 523-539.

Savolainen, E.H.J., Ihalainen, J.K., Vanttinen, T., Walker, S. (2024). Changes in female football players’ in-season training load, intensity and physical performance: training progression matters more than accumulated load. Front. Sports Act. Living 6:1454519. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1454519.

Stølen, T., Chamari, K., Castagna, C., & Wisløff, U. (2005). Physiology of soccer: an update. Sports medicine, 35, 501-536.

Svensson M, Drust B. Testing soccer players. J Sports Sci. 2005 Jun;23(6):601-18. doi: 10.1080/02640410400021294. PMID: 16195009.

Thron, M., Ruf, L., Buchheit, M., Hartel, S., Woll, A., Altmann, S. (2025). Anaerobic speed reserve and acute responses to a short-format high-intensity interval session in runners. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 28. 408–417.

Trewin, J., Meylan, C., Varley, M. C., ve Cronin, J. (2018). The match-to-match variation of match-running in elite female soccer. J. Sci. Med. Sport, 21, 196–201.

Vescovi, J. D. (2012). Sprint speed characteristics of high-level American female soccer players and the impact of selection for a professional team. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 15(6), 556–560.

Vescovi, J. D. (2021). Match demands of women's soccer: From youth to international level. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 716460.

Downloads

Published

2025-08-31

How to Cite

Çıkıkcı, A., Karadağ, A. D., Köse, İsmail E., & Kayhan, R. F. (2025). Comparison of MSS, MAS, and ASR Performance Indicators Among Female Football Players Across League Levels in Türkiye. Journal of Athletic Performance and Sports Medicine, 2(1), 25–35. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17014072

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.