Dr Naomi Datson
Reader in Sports Performance
About
Naomi is a Reader in Sports Performance and lectures on a range of Performance Analysis modules across a number of degree programmes. Prior to joining the University in 2016, Naomi worked in elite sport for 12 years. During this time Naomi predominantly worked for the Football Association and spent 5 years as Head of Sport Science for all England women’s teams. Naomi also spent one year working as a Sports Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport. Naomi gained her PhD in the Physiology of Elite Female Soccer from Liverpool John Moores University in 2016.
Professional
2000-2003 BSc (Hons) Sport Science (physiology), Liverpool John Moores University
2005-2006 MSc Sport Science (physiology), Liverpool John Moores University
2011-2016 PhD in Sport Physiology, Liverpool John Moores University
Key Publications
Journal Articles
Datson, N., Lolli, L., Drust, B., Atkinson, G., Weston, M., & Gregson, W. (2021). Inter-methodological quantification of the target change for performance test outcomes relevant to elite female soccer players. Science and Medicine in Football, Published online 19/06/2021.  https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.1942538
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N., & Emmonds, S. (2021). Determining age-specific velocity thresholds for elite youth female soccer. Science and Medicine in Football, Published online 18/10/2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.1991585
Thompson, C.J., Smith, A., Coutts, A.J., Skorski, S., Datson, N., Smith, M.R. & Meyer, T. (2021). Understanding the presence of mental fatigue in elite female football. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Published online 15/10/2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2021.1873224
Randell, R.K., Clifford, T., Drust, B., Moss, S.L., Unnithan, V.B., De ste Croix, M.B.A., Datson, N., Martin, D., Mayho, H., Carter, J.M. & Rollo, I. (2021). Physiological characteristics of female soccer players and health and performance considerations: a narrative review. Sports Medicine, 51(7), 3271-3280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01458-1
Runswick, O.R., Datson, N., Rawlinson, A., & Allen, P.M. (2021). A valid and reliable test of technical skill for vision impaired football. Science and Medicine in Football, Published online 22/02/2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2021.1885725
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N., & Emmonds, S. (2020). Whole and peak physical characteristics of elite youth female soccer match-play. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(12), 1320-1329. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1868669
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N., & Emmonds, S. (2020). Technical characteristics of elite youth female soccer match-play: position and age group comparisons between under 14 and under 16 age groups. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20(6), 942–959. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2020.1820173
Ford, P. R., Hodges, N. J., Broadbent, D., O’Connor, D., Scott, D., Datson, N., Andersson, H. A., & Williams, A. M. (2020). The developmental and professional activities of female international soccer players from five high-performing nations. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(11–12), 1432–1440. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1789384
Datson, N., Weston, M., Drust, B., Gresgon, W. & Lolli. High-intensity endurance capacity assessment as a tool for talent identification in elite youth female soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences (published online 26/8/19). DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1656323
Datson, N., Drust, B., Weston, M. & Gregson, W. (2019). Repeated high-speed running in elite female soccer players during international competition. Science and Medicine in Football, 3(2), 150-156. DOI: 10.1080/24733938.2018.1508880
De Ste Croix, M., Hughes, J., Ayala, F., Taylor, L. & Datson, N. (2018). Efficacy of injury prevention training is greater for high-risk vs low-risk elite female youth soccer players. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(13), 3271-3280. DOI: 10.1177/0363546518795677
Datson, N., Drust, B., Weston, M., Jarman, I., Lisboa, P. & Gregson, W. (2017). Match physical performance of elite female soccer players during international competition. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31,9, 2379-2387. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001575.
Datson, N., Hulton, A., Andersson, H., Lewis, T., Weston, M., Drust, B. & Gregson, W. (2014). Applied physiology of female soccer: an update. Sports Medicine, 44(9), 1225-40. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-014-0199-1.
Bradley, P.S, Bendiksen, M., Dellal, A., Mohr, M., Wilkie, A., Datson N, et al. (2014). The Application of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Level 2 Test to elite female soccer populations. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24(1), 43- 54. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2012.01483.x.
Williams, K, Gregson, W, Robertson, C, Datson, N, Whyte, G, et al. (2009). Alterations in left ventricular function and cardiac biomarkers as a consequence of repetitive endurance cycling. European Journal of Sport Science, 9(2), 97-105. DOI: 10.1080/17461390902763391
Peer Reviewed Presentations (selected)
Datson, N., Emmonds, S., Hughes, J. & De Ste Croix, M. (2019). A relative age effect exists in elite female soccer. World Congress of Science and Football, Melbourne, June 2019.​
Datson N, Drust B, Weston M, Jarman I, Lisboa P, Gregson W. (2014). Analysis of high-intensity activity in elite female soccer match-play. World Conference on Science and Soccer, Portland, June 2014
​Datson N, Drust B, Weston M, Gregson W. (2014). Reliability of field based performance measures in elite female soccer players. World Conference on Science and Soccer, Portland, June 2014
​Datson N, Sutton L, Williams K, Gregson W. (2010). Predicting Body Fat Percent in Elite Female Soccer Players: Skinfold versus DXA Values. Science and Soccer Conference, Port Elizabeth, June 2010
​Datson N, Drust B, Atkinson G, Gregson W. (2007). Effects of Pre-Cooling and Warm-Up Intensity on Soccer-Specific Intermittent Exercise Performance in the Heat (35 C). World Congress of Science and Football, Antalya, January 2007
Invited Presentations
Datson N. (2021). Physical Performance of Elite Female Soccer Players: The Past, The Present and The Future. Barcelona FC Sports Tomorrow Congress.
Datson, N. (2021). Talent ID in Female Soccer. PlayerMaker, SHEWINS Webinar.
Datson, N. (2021). Women’s Sport: The Statistics Supporting Success. Royal Statistical Society International Conference. Manchester, UK.
Datson, N. (2021). My Career: Building on a Lucky Break. Closing the Gap: Elevating Women in Sport. Catapult Online Webinar.
Datson, N. (2018). A Game of Two Halves. Resident Expert Programme. St Mary’s University, London, UK.
Datson N. (2017). Physiology of Female Soccer. Saarland University Symposium. Saarland University, Germany
Datson N. (2013). Physical Preparation Before and During UEFA Women’s Euro 2013. UEFA Women’s Coaching Conference. Nyon, Switzerland.
​Datson N, Worral P. (2012). FIFA Women’s World Cup Preparation. Science and Football Conference. London, UK.
​Datson N, Lewis, T. (2011). Performance Profiling. Royal Society of Medicine. London, UK.
Research
Naomi has research interests in the following areas:
Performance analysis of soccer
Physiology of female soccer
Recovery strategies
Preparation of elite athletes
Professional Memberships
Naomi is a British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Accredited Sports and Exercise Scientist and holds Chartered Scientist (CSci) status.
Research Output
Articles
Beato, M., Datson, N., Anderson, L., Brownlee, T., Coates, A. and Hulton, A. (2023) Rationale, tips, and practical recommendations for testing protocols in female soccer: a narrative review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. (In Press)
Datson, N., Weston, M., Drust, B., Atkinson, G., Lolli, L. and Gregson, W. (2022) Reference values for performance test outcomes relevant to English female soccer players. Science and Medicine in Football, 6 (5). pp. 589-596. ISSN 2473-3938 10.1080/24733938.2022.2037156
Okholm Kryger, K., Thomson, A., Tang, A., Brown, N., Bruinvels, G., Rosenbloom, C., Carmody, S., Williamson, L., Datson, N., Jobson, E. and Mehta, R. (2022) Ten questions in Sports Engineering: Technology in elite women’s football. Sports Engineering, 25 (25). pp. 1-8. ISSN 1369-7072 10.1007/s12283-022-00384-3
Andrew, M., Finnegan, L., Datson, N. and Dugdale, J. H. (2022) Men Are from Quartile One, Women Are from? Relative Age Effect in European Soccer and the Influence of Age, Success, and Playing Status. Children, 9 (11). p. 1747. ISSN 2227-9067 10.3390/children9111747
Andrew, M., Finnegan, L., Datson, N. and Dugdale, J. (2022) Men Are from Quartile One, Women Are from? Relative Age Effect in European Soccer and the Influence of Age, Success, and Playing Status. Children, 9 (11). p. 1747. ISSN 2227-9067 10.3390/children9111747
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N., Myhill, N. and Emmonds, S. (2022) A systematic review of match-play characteristics in women's soccer. PLOS One, 17 (6). pp. 1-46. ISSN 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0268334
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N., Myhill, N. and Emmonds, S. (2022) A systematic review of match-play characteristics in women’s soccer. PLoS One, 17 (6). ISSN 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0268334
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N. and Emmonds, S. (2021) Determining age-specific velocity thresholds for elite youth female soccer players. Science and Medicine in Football, 6 (5). pp. 581-588. ISSN 2473-3938 10.1080/24733938.2021.1991585
Thompson, C., Smith, A., Coutts, A., Skorski, S., Datson, N., Smith, M. and Meyer, T. (2021) Understanding the presence of mental fatigue in elite female football. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 93 (3). pp. 504-515. ISSN 0270-1367 10.1080/02701367.2021.1873224
Randell, R., Clifford, T., Drust, B., Samantha, M., Unnithan, V., De Ste Croix, M., Datson, N., Martin, D., Mayho, H., Carter, J. M. and Rollo, I. (2021) Physiological Characteristics of Female Soccer Players and Health and Performance Considerations: A Narrative Review. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 51 (7). pp. 1377-1399. ISSN 0112-1642 10.1007/s40279-021-01458-1
Runswick, O. R., Rawlinson, A., Datson, N. and Allen, P. M. (2021) A valid and reliable test of technical skill for vision impaired football. Science and Medicine in Football, 6 (1). pp. 89-97. ISSN 2473-4446 10.1080/24733938.2021.1885725
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N. and Emmonds, S. (2020) Whole and peak physical characteristics of elite youth female soccer match-play. Journal of Sport Sciences. pp. 1-10. ISSN 1466-447X 10.1080/02640414.2020.1868669
Harkness-Armstrong, A., Till, K., Datson, N. and Emmonds, S. (2020) Technical characteristics of elite youth female soccer match-play: position and age group comparisons between Under 14 and Under 16 age groups. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20 (6). pp. 942-959. ISSN 2474-8668 10.1080/24748668.2020.1820173
Ford, P., R., Hodges, N., J., Broadbent, D., O'Connor, D., Scott, D., Datson, N., Andersson, H. and Williams, A. M. (2020) The developmental and professional activities of female international soccer players from five high-performing nations. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414 10.1080/02640414.2020.1789384
Datson, N., Weston, M., Drust, B., Gregson, W. and Lolli, L. (2020) High-intensity endurance capacity assessment as a tool for talent identification in elite youth female soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38 (11-12). pp. 1313-1319. ISSN 0264-0414 10.1080/02640414.2019.1656323
Ramos, G., Datson, N., Nakamura, F., Lopes, T., Mahseredjian, F., Prado, L., Coimbra, C. and Penna, E. (2019) Activity profile of training and matches in Brazilian Olympic female soccer team. Science and Medicine in Football, 3 (3). pp. 231-237. ISSN 2473-3938 10.1080/24733938.2019.1615120
De Ste Croix, M., Hughes, J., Ayala, F., Taylor, L. and Datson, N. (2018) The efficacy of injury prevention training is greater in high risk compared to low risk elite female youth soccer players. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 46 (13). pp. 3271-3280. ISSN 0363-5465 10.1177/0363546518795677
Datson, N., Drust, B., Weston, M. and Gregson, W. (2018) Repeated high-speed running in elite female soccer players during international competition. Science and Medicine in Football. pp. 1-7. ISSN 2473-3938 10.1080/24733938.2018.1508880
Datson, N., Drust, B., Weston, M., Jarman, I. H., Lisboa, P. J. and Gregson, W. (2017) Match Physical Performance of Elite Female Soccer Players During International Competition. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31 (9). pp. 2379-2387. ISSN 1064-8011 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001575
Datson, N., Hulton, A., Andersson, H., Lewis, T., Weston, M., Drust, B. and Gregson, W. (2014) Applied Physiology of Female Soccer: An Update. Sports Medicine, 44 (9). pp. 1225-1240. ISSN 0112-1642 10.1007/s40279-014-0199-1
Other department members
Amber Chafe
Lecturer in Sports Therapy
