‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023

This study aimed to benchmark the match demands of specialised positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. With FIFA’s official approval, all sixty four games at the tournament were analysed using an optical tracking system alongside FIFA’s Enhanced Football Intelligence...

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Main Author: Paul S. Bradley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Termedia Publishing House 2024-06-01
Series:Biology of Sport
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Online Access:https://www.termedia.pl/-Setting-the-Benchmark-Part-3-Contextualising-the-Match-r-nDemands-of-Specialised-Positions-at-the-FIFA-Women-s-World-r-nCup-Australia-and-New-Zealand-2023,78,54170,1,1.html
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author Paul S. Bradley
author_facet Paul S. Bradley
author_sort Paul S. Bradley
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to benchmark the match demands of specialised positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. With FIFA’s official approval, all sixty four games at the tournament were analysed using an optical tracking system alongside FIFA’s Enhanced Football Intelligence metrics. During a typical match, defensive and central midfielders covered 5–15% more total distance than centre backs, wide defenders and centre forwards ( P < 0.01; Effect Size [ES]: 0.6–1.8). The distances covered at higher intensities (≥19.0 and ≥23.0 km · h -1 ) were 18–89% and 88–163% greater in attacking midfielders, wide midfielders, wide forwards and centre forwards than other positions ( P < 0.01; ES: 0.5–2.0 and ES: 1.0–1.3, respectively). Regarding offers made to receive the ball, defensive and central midfielders, attacking midfielders and centre forwards moved more between the lines than centre backs, wide defenders and wide midfielders ( P < 0.01; ES: 1.0–1.9). Movements in behind lines were more common for offensive roles such as attacking midfielders, wide midfielders, wide forwards and centre forwards than other positions ( P < 0.01; ES: 0.9–2.3). Regarding pressing events, direct pressure was highest for defensive and central midfielders compared to other positions ( P < 0.05; ES: 0.5–1.3) and indirect pressure was greater for central midfielders, attacking midfielders, wide midfielders and centre forwards compared to centre backs and wide defenders ( P < 0.01; ES: 0.9–2.3). A basic within tournament positional comparison revealed that centre backs and centre forwards demonstrated pronounced changes in their relative sprint distances from Canada 2015, France 2019 through to Australia and New Zealand 2023. These findings could be valuable to benchmark the contemporary positional demands of women’s international football, while also providing a framework to design role-specific training drills.
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2083-1862
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series Biology of Sport
spelling doaj-art-b8de82fe91e843ecbb443f92a03d0f7e2025-08-20T01:50:42ZengTermedia Publishing HouseBiology of Sport0860-021X2083-18622024-06-014219911110.5114/biolsport.2025.13985754170‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023Paul S. BradleyThis study aimed to benchmark the match demands of specialised positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. With FIFA’s official approval, all sixty four games at the tournament were analysed using an optical tracking system alongside FIFA’s Enhanced Football Intelligence metrics. During a typical match, defensive and central midfielders covered 5–15% more total distance than centre backs, wide defenders and centre forwards ( P < 0.01; Effect Size [ES]: 0.6–1.8). The distances covered at higher intensities (≥19.0 and ≥23.0 km · h -1 ) were 18–89% and 88–163% greater in attacking midfielders, wide midfielders, wide forwards and centre forwards than other positions ( P < 0.01; ES: 0.5–2.0 and ES: 1.0–1.3, respectively). Regarding offers made to receive the ball, defensive and central midfielders, attacking midfielders and centre forwards moved more between the lines than centre backs, wide defenders and wide midfielders ( P < 0.01; ES: 1.0–1.9). Movements in behind lines were more common for offensive roles such as attacking midfielders, wide midfielders, wide forwards and centre forwards than other positions ( P < 0.01; ES: 0.9–2.3). Regarding pressing events, direct pressure was highest for defensive and central midfielders compared to other positions ( P < 0.05; ES: 0.5–1.3) and indirect pressure was greater for central midfielders, attacking midfielders, wide midfielders and centre forwards compared to centre backs and wide defenders ( P < 0.01; ES: 0.9–2.3). A basic within tournament positional comparison revealed that centre backs and centre forwards demonstrated pronounced changes in their relative sprint distances from Canada 2015, France 2019 through to Australia and New Zealand 2023. These findings could be valuable to benchmark the contemporary positional demands of women’s international football, while also providing a framework to design role-specific training drills.https://www.termedia.pl/-Setting-the-Benchmark-Part-3-Contextualising-the-Match-r-nDemands-of-Specialised-Positions-at-the-FIFA-Women-s-World-r-nCup-Australia-and-New-Zealand-2023,78,54170,1,1.htmlmatch analysis soccer female position high intensity international evolution
spellingShingle Paul S. Bradley
‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023
Biology of Sport
match analysis
soccer
female
position
high intensity
international
evolution
title ‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023
title_full ‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023
title_fullStr ‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023
title_full_unstemmed ‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023
title_short ‘Setting the Benchmark’ Part 3: Contextualising the Match Demands of Specialised Positions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023
title_sort setting the benchmark part 3 contextualising the match demands of specialised positions at the fifa women s world cup australia and new zealand 2023
topic match analysis
soccer
female
position
high intensity
international
evolution
url https://www.termedia.pl/-Setting-the-Benchmark-Part-3-Contextualising-the-Match-r-nDemands-of-Specialised-Positions-at-the-FIFA-Women-s-World-r-nCup-Australia-and-New-Zealand-2023,78,54170,1,1.html
work_keys_str_mv AT paulsbradley settingthebenchmarkpart3contextualisingthematchdemandsofspecialisedpositionsatthefifawomensworldcupaustraliaandnewzealand2023