Cited by 106Sports Performance and TrainingPhysical Education and Training StudiesSport Psychology and Performance

The relationship between physical fitness qualities and sport-specific technical skills in female, team-based ball players: a systematic review

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Farley, Jessica B., Stein, Joshua, Keogh, Justin W. L., Woods, Carl T., Milne, Nikki·2020·Sports Medicine - Open

Abstract

Background: Understanding the relationships between physical fitness attributes and sport-specific technical skills may assist with the establishment of beneficial training interventions. The aim of this systematic review was to determine if physical fitness qualities were associated with performance of sport-specific technical skills in female, team-based ball players. Methods: Five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest, and Scopus) were searched for relevant studies up to April 15, 2019. Full-text articles investigating relationships between physical fitness and sport-specific technical skills in female, team-based ball players were included. Methodological quality of included studies was appraised using a modified Downs and Black checklist. Data synthesis was conducted to determine the summary of evidence based on the number of significantly associated relationships divided by the total relationships assessed. An individual relationship was defined as a reported result examining the association between a single physical fitness variable and a single sport-specific technical skill. Results: Data synthesis of grouped female ball players from 41 included studies revealed three clear associations: (i) body composition and defensive technical skills (19/29; 66%), (ii) agility and movement with a ball (4/6; 67%), and (iii) coordination and movement with a ball (3/5; 60%). An uncertain association exists between cardiorespiratory fitness and defensive technical skills (2/5; 40%). No association or an unknown conclusion (< 5 relationships reported) exists between all remaining physical fitness attributes and sport-specific technical skills. Sub-analyses revealed clear associations between body composition and throwing/shooting (using hands) in junior ball players (15/15; 100%) and with movement with a ball in elite (6/9; 67%) and senior (6/6; 100%) ball players. Three uncertain associations were found between offensive technical skills and agility in elite ball players (3/8; 38%), and with speed in elite (6/14; 43%) and junior (7/18; 39%) female ball players. Conclusion: There is limited evidence available to demonstrate relationships between physical fitness qualities and sport-specific technical skills in female, team-based ball players. This lack of association is possibly due to reductionist methods in available literature and a lack of research in female ball players globally. Registration: CRD42017065339 (PROSPERO on 12 May 2017).

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  • An AR training system in combat sports enhanced athletes' physical fitness and technical performance.

    “Farley et al. (2020) found that an AR training system during combat sports enhanced the physical fitness and technical performance of the athletes.”

    From Real-time feedback enhances motor learning and motivation in youth team sports through augmented reality tools (2025) · cites this paper as Farley et al. (2020)

    The Background and Results passages concern physical fitness and technical skills in female team-based ball players, not an AR training intervention in combat sports. Searches for augmented reality, combat sports, and training interventions found no passage addressing the claimed improvement. (LLM, conf=0.77)

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Authors
Farley, J. B., Stein, J., Keogh, J. W. L., Woods, C. T., & Milne, N.
Affiliations
  • Bond University (AU)
  • Victoria University (AU)
Corresponding author
Farley, Jessica B.
Venue
Sports Medicine - Open
Published
2020-04-15
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
18-18
ISSN
  • 2198-9761 (ISSN-L)
  • 2199-1170
OpenAlex
W3016729079
Cited by
106
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
FWCI
1.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sports Medicine - Open (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Bond University Research Portal (Bond University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Australian Government
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Physical Education and Training Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
Keywords
physical fitness, body composition, agility, coordination, cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, defensive skills, offensive skills

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