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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(14): 1173-1182
DOI: 10.1055/a-1839-6040
Review

Physical and Technical Demands and Preparatory Strategies in Female Field Collision Sports: A Scoping Review

Kathryn Dane 
1   Discipline of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland
,
Ciaran Simms
2   Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin School of Engineering, Dublin, Ireland
,
Sharief Hendricks
3   Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Cape Town and the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
4   Health, Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Observatory, South Africa
5   Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) centre, Leeds Beckett University Institute for Sport Physical Activity and Leisure, Leeds, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Stephen W. West
6   Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada
,
Steffan Griffin
7   Centre for Sport and Exercise, University of Edinburgh Institute for Sport Physical Education and Health Sciences, Edinburgh, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
8   Medical services, Rugby Football Union, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Frank J. Nugent
9   Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, University of Limerick Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Limerick, Ireland
10   Sport and Human Performance Research Cluster, University of Limerick, Health Research Institute, Limerick, Ireland
,
Garreth Farrell
11   Department of Physiotherapy, Leinster Rugby, Dublin, Ireland
,
David Mockler
12   John Stearne Library, University of Dublin Trinity College School of Medicine John Stearne Medical Library, Dublin, Ireland
,
Fiona Wilson
13   Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract

Women’s participation in field collision sports is growing worldwide. Scoping reviews provide an overview of scientific literature in a developing area to support practitioners, policy, and research priorities. Our aim is to explore published research and synthesise information on the physical and technical demands and preparation strategies of female field collision sports. We searched four databases and identified relevant published studies. Data were extracted to form (1) a numerical analysis and (2) thematic summary. Of 2318 records identified, 43 studies met the inclusion criteria. Physical demands were the most highly investigated (n+=+24), followed by technical demands (n+= 18), tactical considerations (n+=+8) and preparatory strategies (n=1). The key themes embody a holistic model contributing to both performance and injury prevention outcomes in the context of female field collision sports. Findings suggest a gender data gap across all themes and a low evidence base to inform those preparing female athletes for match demands. Given the physical and technical differences in match-demands the review findings do not support the generalisation of male-derived training data to female athletes. To support key stakeholders working within female field collision sports there is a need to increase the visibility of female athletes in the literature.

Key words

technical skill - physical preparation - match-demands - female athlete - field collision sport

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 30 November 2021

Accepted: 19 April 2022

Article published online:
29 June 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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