Author Identifier
Date of Award
2026
Keywords
women’s football, performance analysis, youth to senior football, goal scoring, ball recovery
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Master of Medical and Health Science by Research
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
First Supervisor
Kristina Kendall 
0000-0001-6872-7335
Second Supervisor
Oliver Barley 0000-0002-8543-9818
Third Supervisor
Mark Scanlan 0000-0002-1462-0855
Abstract
Football is a globally recognised team sport that has seen a significant increase in female participation rates with a 24% growth in the last 5 years. Research examining physiological and physical differences among various age groups in women’s football has revealed that senior athletes face higher match demands and perform better during physical testing compared to younger players. Age-related differences reported in physical and technical variables in female players highlight a practical need for research in how the tactical aspects of the game change with age. While tactical differences in male football have been extensively studied, similar research on female players remains limited. Despite rapid growth in international women’s football, evidence guiding age-specific performance analysis and tactical benchmarking remains underdeveloped, particularly across representative pathways (U17 Senior). Understanding how key performance indicators differ across age groups is fundamental in game understanding. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to examine age related differences in performance metrics in elite international women’s football, with a particular focus on how physical, technical, and tactical characteristics vary across the U17, U20, and Senior levels. This research aims to fill a current gap in the literature and assist coaches in the planning and implementation of training sessions to enhance team performance in women’s representative international football.
Access Note
Access to this thesis is embargoed until 23rd March 2027
Recommended Citation
May, K. (2026). Age-related differences in goal-scoring opportunities and ball recovery in elite international women’s football. Edith Cowan University. https://doi.org/10.25958/04fe-sx58