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Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2615-4884
Training & Testing

Reliability and Sensitivity of Performance Tests in Adult Female Football Players

Elena Mainer-Pardos
1   Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Villanueva de Gallego, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN202607)
,
Oliver Gonzalo-Skok
2   Communication and Education, Universidad Loyola Andalucia - Campus de Sevilla, Seville, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN670438)
› Author Affiliations
Supported by: Oliver Gonzalo-Skok was supported by a Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral fellowship RYC2023-045305-I Supported by: funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the FSE+given by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Union.
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Abstract

This study evaluated the reliability, sensitivity, and performance changes in physical tests in highly trained adult female football players over the course of a competitive season. Twenty players (21.1±2.72 years) participated in this study. Tests included bilateral and unilateral countermovement jumps, unilateral horizontal jumps, 40-m linear sprints, and change-of-direction (COD) tests (COD180° and V-cut). Relative and absolute reliabilities were analyzed. Sensitivity was determined by comparing the smallest worthwhile change to the typical error of measurement and, in addition, changes in performance over the season were assessed in short-, medium-, and long-term periods. Results demonstrated high reliability across all tests, with intraclass correlation coefficient values ranging from 0.70 to 0.94 and coefficient of variation (CV) below 5%, meeting a priori reliability criteria. Vertical jumping exhibited the highest reliability (0.89–0.92) and was sensitive in detecting moderate-to-large changes. COD tests showed moderate-to-high reliability (0.70–0.89), with CODR180° sensitive to seasonal adaptations. Sprint tests also displayed good reliability (0.80–0.94); however, their sensitivity was limited. Notably, the unilateral jump tests and CODR180° exceeded CV thresholds, highlighting their potential to monitor significant improvements over time. Unilateral and COD-specific assessments emerged as particularly valuable for detecting performance changes, underscoring the need for sport-specific testing protocols in women's football.

Keywords

soccer - power - linear speed - change of direction - women


Publication History

Received: 20 January 2025

Accepted after revision: 16 May 2025

Article published online:
23 June 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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