Work

Physical Predictors of Sprint Performance in Moroccan Female Football Players Across Competitive Levels

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Physical performance profiling is essential for monitoring player development and guiding individualized training in women’s football. However, multidimensional evidence from North African female football players remains limited. This study aimed to compare neuromuscular performance, sprint ability, change-of-direction speed, and maximal aerobic speed between Moroccan first- and second-division female football players. A total of 105 Moroccan female football players participated in this cross-sectional study, including 45 first-division and 60 second-division players. Participants completed a fieldbased testing battery including squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with free arms, drop jump, 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m sprint tests, a 20 m change-of-direction speed test, and the Vameval test. Between-division differences were examined using independent samples t-tests, while Pearson correlations, simple linear regressions, and multiple linear regression models were used to examine individual and combined associations with sprint performance. First-division players demonstrated superior performance in DJ (p < .001, d = 1.05), CMJ (p < .001, d = 0.82), CMJ-FA (p < .001, d = 0.86), 10 m sprint (p = .044, d = 0.40), 20 m sprint (p = .013, d = 0.49), 20 m change-of-direction speed test (p = .002, d = 0.65), and VMA (p < .001, d = 0.86). No significant differences were observed for squat jump or 30 m sprint performance. Countermovement jump was associated with sprint performance across all sprint distances. The 20 m change-of-direction speed test also predicted sprint performance across 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m, explaining 12.5%–21.7% of the variance. Competitive level in Moroccan women’s football appears to be characterized by dynamic jump performance, short-distance acceleration, change-of-direction speed, and aerobic fitness rather than by a single isolated physical quality. Multidimensional field-based testing may help coaches monitor player development and individualize training, with CMJ performance and 20 m change-of-direction speed potentially representing useful field-based indicators of sprint ability and competitive level.

Source: Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.260910