Explosive strength in female 11-on-11 versus 7-on-7 soccer players

Lower limbs strength capacity in female soccer players is poorly addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate explosive strength in 7-on-7 (7FP) and 11-on-11 (11FP) female players and its possible changes at 3 different checkpoints of the competitive season. Thirteen 11FP of mean age 22.0 years) and twenty-six 7FP (of mean age 23.6 years) were enrolled. Vertical jump capacity was determined by means of squat jump (SJ) and counter movement jump (CMJ) tests in 3 different periods (September 2005, December 2005, April 2006). No significant differences were observed in SJ elevation or CMJ elevation between the two groups at any time point, and there were no significant changes over time. However, 7FPs tended to have higher explosive performance during SJ compared to 11FPs, and they had a significantly lower elastic recoil index at all three evaluations. This may be due to the characteristics of 7-on-7 soccer, in which the neuromuscular and explosive strength demands are higher than those of 11-on-11 soccer. Such requirements, though increasing muscular explosive performance, also increase the rigidity of the lower limb extensor apparatus.