by The Football Association is launching a “groundbreaking” plan to address the knowledge gap around women’s health in high performance sport.
Each Women’s Super League and Championship club is introducing a designated “female athlete’s health guide” to help improve understanding of menstrual cycles, breast support and pelvic health.
England’s top two women’s ranges are working with the Well HQ, and their expertise on everything from menstrual cycles to sports bras to returning to sport after giving birth is expected to change “the needle” on physical literacy for female athletes.
Data presented by the Well HQ shows that 80 percent of players self-report low knowledge of the menstrual cycle, but 86 percent experience cycle symptoms. It also shows that 20 percent of players have experienced leaking urine during training or matches, while only 24 percent chose a sports bra based on its ability to reduce breast movement – its main function.
The FA has been working with Wells HQ since 2020 and in October last year the governing body ordered staff at all 24 clubs across the WSL and Championship to undergo an online training course, with modules on pelvic health, fertility and periods are included, for example. just a few. An existing member of staff at each of the 24 clubs will now be named as head of women’s athlete health [FAHL].
“It’s great that this is going forward because the FA are the first governing body that we know of, in this country and probably in the world, to have mandated this training for a team across the pro game. , and then they have accepted it. a step beyond that,” said Dr Emma Ross, chief science officer at Tober HQ.
“Football will be a great vehicle to push the agenda forward because we need to keep players healthy emotionally and physically. The FA really stepped up and said, ‘We’re going to do it and we’re going to do it right’ and that will really act as a flagship for other sports, to say, ‘This is what good looks like’. to look after women in sport.”
The 24 FAHLs will receive further education and support, including a course in spring 2024, and best practice guidelines will be provided to clubs on pregnancy, postnatal care and the menstrual cycle. Medical staff across England will also be closely involved with women.
Andy Hudson, the FA’s performance support manager for the women’s professional game, says there was “increasing urgency” to improve understanding of women’s health across the game.
Hudson said: “[This will] helping to support the development of female professional footballers so that they develop not only as footballers but also as people. That’s the really important point for us, which is exciting, that we can have a significant impact on the lives of people involved in the women’s game.
‘Things that are considered innovative will become the norm’
“The FA and the league have done some of the heavy lifting in this regard, so we’ve reduced the burden on the clubs by providing it with resources, by investing in it, and making sure that the level of practical support and related expertise. . The broad intent of this is to let the rising tide lift all ships, and so that things that were considered innovative will be seen as business as usual, business as usual.”
Dr. Ross is determined to fill the knowledge gap when female athletes understand their bodies. She added: “I can’t say enough how ground-breaking this project is. This is really pushing the boundaries of saying, ‘This cannot be discussed. If we’re going to really support women in sport, that’s what we have to do’.
“The data we found was reflected in a large project carried out by the Government on all women throughout the United Kingdom, and it concluded that women, at all stages of life, are ‘highly educated ‘ under their body. Now these women will have much more power to make important decisions about their bodies. We should expect better body literacy for all women and hopefully all of these things will help shift the needle on that.
“An athlete who is happier, more comfortable, who feels supported and a sense of belonging, will play better. But I always boil it down to athlete availability. Whether it’s menstrual cycle symptoms, whether he doesn’t have the right sports bra, whether he’s pushing well, we know it affects the quality or quantity of training a player can do.
“So when it comes to performance, that’s not a marginal gain, that’s a no-brainer and it’s a great opportunity.”
England head coach Sarina Wiegman said the move was “another step in the right direction”, adding: “It’s very good. It is also very necessary. It has been said all along, that more research is needed about women in sport and more support too. And this is another step in the right direction in that case.
“We have to continue and continue to do research, which of course will take time with the results, but also continue to support it to make it the best way for women’s sport and continue to grow the game.”
England and Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh, joining Wiegman at England’s press conference in Marbella on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s friendly for the Lionesses against Italy, said: “It’s very important and I think , because I play in the Spanish league now, that I saw. where the FA and the WSL are going and kind of being at the forefront and ahead of that is really nice to see. Ultimately, I think the support the FA is showing for female athletes is really good and I hope it continues.”
