{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T22:39:35Z","timestamp":1789079975086,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]],"date-time":"2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753660800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFMK"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Soccer is a physically demanding sport characterized by frequent high-intensity efforts, which are particularly relevant in women\u2019s competitions. Improving high-speed running and aerobic capacity has been linked to better on-field performance. Strength training has shown promise in enhancing these physical attributes, but its application in young female soccer players remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 10-week in-season strength training program on physical performance and match running demands in young female soccer players. Methods: Thirty-two U18 Danish female professional soccer players from two comparable teams voluntarily participated in the study. Teams were allocated to either an experimental group, performing twice-weekly strength training (EG, n = 16) or a control group (CG, n = 16). Vertical jump performance and Yo-Yo IR2 performance as an estimation for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were assessed both pre and post intervention. Additionally, players\u2019 match external demands (i.e., total distance, distance covered at speeds above 23 km\u00b7h\u22121, and maximum velocity achieved) were monitored using Global Positioning System devices during four matches before and after the intervention. Results: Significant within-group differences were observed across all variables for the EG (p = 0.001; ES = 1.08 to 1.45, large), without differences in the CG (p &gt; 0.01). Between-group analysis indicated significant differences favoring the EG in all variables (F = 27.40 to 47.17; p = 0.001). Conclusions: The application of a 10-week strength training program led to improvements in physical and match running performance among young female soccer players, underscoring the importance of incorporating strength training programs into female soccer periodization to enhance performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk10030289","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]],"date-time":"2025-07-28T14:50:03Z","timestamp":1753714203000},"page":"289","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Impact of a 10-Week Strength Training Program on Physical Performance and Match External Load in Young Elite Female Soccer Players"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Sefika Pelin","family":"Bal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Deporte, UCAM Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Sport and Health Sciences Cluster (SHSC), University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense-M, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6188-9443","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luis Manuel","family":"Mart\u00ednez-Aranda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sports and Computer Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain"},{"name":"Science-Based Training Research Group (SEJ-680), Physical Performance and Sports Research Center, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1461-9838","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Peter","family":"Krustrup","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Sport and Health Sciences Cluster (SHSC), University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense-M, Denmark"},{"name":"Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense-M, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3570-7159","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Javier","family":"Raya-Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Grupo de Investigaci\u00f3n en Deporte y Educaci\u00f3n F\u00edsica para el Desarrollo Personal y Social (GIDEPSO), Department of Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of C\u00f3rdoba, 14004 C\u00f3rdoba, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2205","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2016.1217343","article-title":"High-Intensity Efforts in Elite Soccer Matches and Associated Movement Patterns, Technical Skills and Tactical Actions. 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