Tier 1
Top D1 / Power-5
SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12-equivalent starting potential.
Position Benchmarks
Center back: D1 / D2 / D3
Per-90 benchmarks for center backs in NCAA women's soccer. This is the only outfield position where height genuinely matters — but duel success rate matters more.
Per-90 performance benchmarks
The four core center back metrics. Aerial duels and duel success are the most discriminating between divisions.
| Metric | D1 mean | D1 σ | D2 mean | D3 mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Duels Wonper 90 minutes played | 4.80 | 1.20 | 3.50 | 2.50 |
| Duel Success% of all duels won (ground + air) | 62.5% | 7.0 | 58.0% | 54.0% |
| Interceptionsper 90 minutes played | 5.50 | 1.80 | 4.80 | 4.00 |
| Tackles Wonper 90 minutes played | 3.20 | 1.10 | 2.80 | 2.40 |
Tier alignment
Where a player slots in once you have her Z-score.
Tier 2
Solid D1 / top D2
Above-average starting potential at mid-major D1 or top D2 programs.
Tier 3
D3 / NAIA / lower D2
Average collegiate. Developmental programs.
Competition multipliers
Multiply raw per-90 rates by M before computing the Z-score.
| League / Competition | Multiplier (M) |
|---|---|
| ECNL National / US Youth National Team | 1.00 |
| Girls Academy (GA) | 0.95 |
| ECRL / Development Player League (DPL) | 0.80 |
| NPL / Elite State Leagues | 0.70 |
| High School Varsity (competitive state) | 0.65 |
| High School JV / Recreational Club | 0.40 |
Physical gates
Center back is the position where height ranges are tightest — but elite aerial duel numbers still win out over an inch or two.
| Division | Height range |
|---|---|
| D1 | 5'7" – 5'11" |
| D2 | 5'5" – 5'9" |
| D3 | 5'4" – 5'8" |
| Test | D1 | D2 | D3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-meter split | 1.75s | 1.85s | 1.95s |
| 30-meter sprint | 4.0s | 4.2s | 4.4s |
| 40-yard dash | 5.0s | 5.2s | 5.4s |
Center back: deep dives
Spoke articles unpacking specific dimensions of the center back profile.
Aerial duels per 90
D1 4.8/90: volume vs win-rate and the override metrics.
Height by division
D1 5'7"–5'11". The 5'8" working floor and what overrides it.
Highlight reel: clip by clip
Opens with interceptions, closes with an uncut defensive possession.
Ball-playing vs stopper
The two CB archetypes and the formation fits.
From Brava
Put her numbers next to these.
Every Brava profile comes with these benchmarks, set against her own stats.
See a sample profileSources
Collegiate Women's Soccer Performance Benchmarking Report. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Please link back to bravamade.com/research/benchmarks/center-back.