In the Search of the Tendency to Symmetrize the Shots in Female Soccer at Top Level Competitions

Abstract

An important issue in team games is the possession of as many versatile players as possible. The versatility in soccer concerns both the left-foot and right-foot skills (symmetricalness) in reference to shots at goal. The aim of the paper is precise play recognition and outlining the tendencies of shot symmetricalness in top world women’s soccer. For the analysis the author’s own elaboration has been used according to the questionnaire of shot observation (shots at goal). The material of study concerns the observation of matches recorded on video tape at the following women’s soccer tournaments: the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2003 and 2007, the Under 19 FIFA Women’s World Cup 2004 and the UEFA Women’s Cup 2005 and 2009. In order to outline the tendencies in shot symmetricalness possibly comparable senior tournaments have been used: FIFA World Cup 2007, UEFA Women’s Cup 2005 and 2009. As a result of the analysis model player behaviour has been worked out. This model of the shot at goal skill is expressed in the short accuracy of 50% and the shot effectiveness of circa 10.0%. The stable pattern of right-foot domination (65% of shots) has been confirmed. No new tendencies were observed over five years (2005-2009). There emerge examples of more versatile training in terms of shots an instance of which is the Brazilian team at the Under 19 FIFA World Cup in which the number of right-foot and left-foot shots was perfectly symmetrical and amounted to 50% respectively. The data that have been gathered can be used in shot skill assessment.

Keywords: Women’s Soccer, Shot Symmetricalness, Tendencies