Visual exploratory activity in elite women’s soccer: An analysis of the UEFA Women’s European Championship 2022

Feist, J., Datson, N., Runswick, O. R., Harkness-Armstrong, A. and Pocock, C. (2024) Visual exploratory activity in elite women’s soccer: An analysis of the UEFA Women’s European Championship 2022. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. pp. 1-23. ISSN 1557-251X

[thumbnail of This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology on 19/1/2024, available online https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2023.2300386] Text (This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology on 19/1/2024, available online https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2023.2300386)
Feist et al. (2024) VEA Women's Soccer .pdf - Accepted Version
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Abstract

Recent research has developed understanding of the technical and tactical determinants of success in elite women’s soccer, however a lack of research exists on analysing how elite female players visually explore their environment to support skilled soccer performance. This study aimed to describe the visual exploratory activity (VEA) of elite female central midfield players and understand the relationships between VEA, performance with the ball and specific contextual and situational factors. Thirty female central midfield players (M age = 26.7 years, SD = 3.8) from the eight teams who competed in the knock-out stages of UEFA Women’s European Championship 2022 were analysed. Television broadcast and UEFA tactical footage were combined to analyse players across the seven knock-out stage matches, totalling 1,038 individual ball possessions. The mean scan frequency before receiving the ball was 0.35 scans/second. Results showed pitch location when receiving the ball to be the main predictor of scan frequency, which in turn predicted action result (p = 0.003) and turn with the ball (p = 0.003). Scan frequencies were lower compared to men’s elite and academy players. This study sets a platform for experimental research to further our understanding of VEA and performance with the ball in women’s soccer.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: central midfielders, scan frequency, women’s soccer (football), 51 visual perception, exploratory activity
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV201 Physical education and training
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports > GV711 Coaching
Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Sport
Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Research Theme > Enhancing Sport Performance
Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER)
Related URLs:
Depositing User: James Feist
Date Deposited: 16 Jan 2024 13:50
Last Modified: 05 Jun 2024 10:27
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/7319

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