Academic literature on the topic 'Amateur women’s soccer'

AbstractThe popularity of female soccer is increasing as well as the number of females playing soccer. Similarly, over the last twenty or so years, research in soccer has increased significantly, but a large disparity exists in the volume of studies involving male and female players. As a consequence of this, female players remain less well understood compared to males. The purpose of the present narrative review was to describe morphological characteristics, physiological demands, physical abilities and injuries in female soccer players. Physiological demands are similar between men’s and women’s soccer, but competitive women’s matches were characterized by nearly 33% less distance covered, although at higher intensity levels (maximum speeds greater than 15 km/h) than typically found in the men’s game. Sub-elite female players also tended to run less at higher intensity levels at the end of both halves in comparison with elite female players. High intensity running is an important factor of success in soccer since many critical moments of the game occur under this condition. The ability to rapidly change direction also determined elite, sub-elite and amateur levels. The implementation of functional training, which focused on soccer-specific drills and plyometric exercises, to improve explosive power, may improve conditioning in female soccer players as well as decrease the risk of injuries which was 3-8 times higher in females compared to males. This review presents an in-depth overview of the most influential factors for determining success in female soccer.

La mujer en el fútbol en las últimas décadas ha tenido grandes avances por su práctica deportiva y apoyo familiar, lo que le ha permitido ganar espacio en el fútbol. La investigación asumió el paradigma cualitativo, con diseño etnográfico mediante 31 entrevistas y dos grupos focales, se ha analizado las influencias socioculturales que enfrenta la mujer futbolista en la liga amateur de Puno-Perú. Algunos resultados de esta investigación señalan que existen influencias socioculturales que enfrenta la mujer futbolista y está asociada con las barreras sociales de desigualdad social y provienen de condiciones económicas media y baja, refieren no recibir apoyo por parte de los directivos y medios de comunicación, además reflejan haber recibido actitudes machistas y estigmas por su género y jugar al fútbol, siendo catalogadas como marimachos y que todos estos aspectos no les limita su práctica del fútbol. Se concluye que en la autoidentificación la mujer puneña muestra su propia personalidad, tiene confianza y maneja su propia vida y se resalta el papel de los padres de familia en la iniciación, práctica y permanencia del fútbol femenino. Abstract. Women in soccer in recent decades have made great strides due to their sports practice and family support, which has allowed them to gain space in soccer. The research assumed the qualitative paradigm, with an ethnographic design through 31 interviews and two focus groups, the sociocultural influences faced by the female soccer player in the amateur league of Puno-Peru have been analyzed. Some results of this research indicate that there are sociocultural influences faced by the female soccer player and is associated with social barriers of social inequality and come from medium and low economic conditions, they refer not receiving support from managers and the media, they also reflect having received macho attitudes and stigmas due to their gender and playing soccer, being classified as tomboys and that all these aspects do not limit their practice of soccer. It is concluded that in self-identification the woman from Puno shows her own personality, has confidence and manages her own life and the role of parents in the initiation, practice and permanence of women's football is highlighted.

In a social and sports world dominated by weight-centred beliefs and highly exigent and gendered athletic and beauty body standards, the vulnerability for eating pathology, i.e., disordered eating and eating disorders (EDs), is elevated among women athletes. The aim of this study was to explore body image facets and ED risk among female athletes in masculinised sports such as soccer. Forty-five federated amateur female soccer players from Spain participated in this study, voluntarily complying with an extensive evaluation protocol on attitudes towards body and appearance and eating practises. The participants overall reported self-representations of their bodies that corresponded to their reality as athletes, but their body ideals were also more demanding in terms of low fat and muscularity, in association with the functionality of their body and the physical demands of their athletic activity. Despite having a fairly high positive body image and body satisfaction, they also expressed negative attitudes towards their bodies. Around 2 out of 10 players were at risk of suffering from an ED. Players with negative attitudes towards their bodies had an odd 12 times likely to develop an ED compared to those with lower self-devaluation, after adjusting for BMI and body perceptions (OR = 12.3, p < 0.01). On the contrary, players who appreciate their bodies and hold a positive body image had an odd 83% lower to suffer from eating pathology, after adjusting for BMI and body satisfaction (OR = 0.17, p < 0.05). Our findings support the healthy and protective role of positive body image in sports contexts. Body attitudes should be addressed in preventive and therapeutic efforts for reducing the prevalence of EDs in women's sports, within both a “negative” and a “positive” paradigm of body image.

This dissertation is one added piece to the puzzle in how environmental factors can contribute to a positive affect to and development within a sport by looking at how environmental models can be used in an amateur format for the first time. The purpose of this thesis to adapt both the ATDE and ESF working models to an amateur environment in soccer, and if necessary, perform an intervention which might improve the positive effect the environment could have on its athletes.  Results showed many of the features and factors found within elite ATDEs could be replicated at an amateur soccer club. Moreover, an intervention based upon previous ecological studies involved connecting the academy and senior-level players through multiple channels. Results showed positive experiences from both sides of the intervention, as youth players began to understand how they could still play at the adult level - balancing an education or job with their sport. In summary, the results demonstrate three key concepts: 1) both ATDE and ESF models can be adapted an applied by practitioners and researchers to the amateur environment, 2) a successful  ecological interventional can be as simple as providing the room and space for interaction between senior and junior-level athletes, and 3) future research into ATDEs and ESF of amateur environments could help many young female athletes stay active into their adult years.:Statement of Authentication 3 Dissertation-Related Publications and Presentations 4 Table of Contents 5 English summary of the dissertation 7 Deutsche Zusammenfassung der Dissertation 8 Chapter 1: Introduction 10 1.1 The role of amateur sport 10 1.2 Soccer as a world sport 11 Chapter 2: Talent Detection, Identification, and Development 14 2.1 Traditional model of talent development 15 2.2 Talent detection and Identification 17 2.3 Criticisms of talent identification 20 2.4 Talent development models 23 2.5 Summary of talent identification and developmental models 27 Chapter 3: Ecological Approach and Models of Development 28 3.1 Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecologocal Model 29 3.1 A call for the ecological approach 31 3.2 Henriksen’s ecological studies 32 3.3. Ecological intervention and a successful ATDE in soccer 47 3.4. Other ATDE Studies 52 3.5 Summary and future directions 53 Chapter 4: Purpose of Dissertation 55 4.1 Dissertation objectives 55 Chapter 5: Study I - A description of the ATDE and ESF 57 5.1 General methodology 57 5.2 Study I - Selection of the club and participants 59 5.3 Study I - Research methods and instruments 60 5.4 Study I - Procedure 63 5.5 Study I - Results 66 5.6 Study I - Description of the environment 68 5.7 Study I - Factors influencing the success of the environment 76 5.8 Study I - Discussion 82 Chapter 6: Study II - An ecological intervention 102 6.1 Introduction 102 6.2 Study II - Description of the Intervention 102 6.3 Study II - Research methods and instruments 104 6.4 Study II - Analysis and interpretation 105 6.5 Study II - Results 105 6.6 Study II - Discussion 108 Chapter 7: Reflections and applications for practitioners 115 Literature Cited 124 Appendices 137 Appendix 1: Interview guidelines for players, staff, and coaches in study I 137 Appendix 2: Interview guidelines for parents in study I 138 Appendix 3: Interview guidelines for Players and coaches in study II 139 Appendix 4: Node trees developed from analysis of interviews and observations 140