Elite female football players' perception of the impact of their menstrual cycle stages on their football performance. A semi-structured interview-based study.

OBJECTIVES This study assesses how female footballers perceive how their menstrual cycle impacts their physical and psychological performance, informing future research and intervention. METHODS Semi-structured interviews, developed using piloting and peer review took place with fifteen elite female footballers from two English WSL clubs (age: 25.2 [18-33]). Data was audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using NVivo. RESULTS All players (100%) perceive their menstrual cycle to negatively impact performance. Analysing 27,438 words of data revealed five themes: A) symptoms, B) preparation, C) performance, D) recovery, and E) management. Over half (53%) of players experienced decreased appetite and sleep quality prior to performance during menstruation. Competitive performance was perceived to be most negatively impacted during menses (54 references) following by the pre-menstrual stage (23 references). During menstruation, the most impacted physical performance indicators were power (93%) and fatigue (87%). Psychologically, confidence, focus, and reaction to criticism were commonly affected (66.7%). Players reported missing training (13.3%) and matches (13.3%) due to severity of impact. Recovery was affected during the pre-menstrual (26.7%) and menstrual (66.7) stages. Players self-manage symptoms using over the counter (66.7%) and prescription (26.7%) medication, some prophylactically prior to competition (46.7%). CONCLUSIONS This first attempt to ascertain player perception in football exposes a clear negative impact on performance. The complex interplay of biopsychosocial and logistical factors, lack of awareness and education highlight the need for further research. Intervention is necessary and immediate initiation would be prudent, starting with simple measures such as basic self-management advice, education, and provision of sanitary products

Can we evidence-base injury prevention and management in women's football? A scoping review.

This review aimed, as part of a larger FIFA project aiming to steer women's football research, to scope literature on any level of competitive football for women, to understand the current quantity of research on women's football injuries. The study reviewed all injury-related papers scoped by a recent scoping review mapping all published women's football research with an updated search performed on 23 February 2021. Eligibility criteria assessment followed the recent scoping review with injury-specific research focus. A total of 497 studies were scoped. Most studies contained an epidemiological (N = 226; 45%) or risk factors assessment (N = 105; 21%). Less assessed areas included financial burden (N = 1; <1%) and injury awareness (N = 5; 1%). 159 studies (32%) assessed injuries of the whole body. The most common single location assessed in the literature was the knee (N = 134, 27%), followed by head/face (N =108, 22%). These numbers were, however, substantially lowered, when subdivided by playing level and age-group. The volume of research focuses especially on descriptive research and specific body locations (head/face and knee). Although information can be taken from studies in other sports, more football-specific studies to support management and prevention of injuries are warranted

The impact and perceived barriers menstruation present to football participation in amateur female footballers.

This study looked to determine the impact different stages of the menstrual cycle has on experienced football performance and exercise ability, and to identify the experienced barriers to football participation menstruation presents in amateur women footballers. An online survey, developed using piloting and expert peer review, was used. The inclusion criteria were non-professional, women currently experiencing regular menstrual cycles, aged 18 years playing 60 min football/week in the UK. Descriptive statistics were performed on quantitative data and thematic analysis of the open-ended questions asking participants to list any barriers they felt menstruation presents to playing football. A total of 127 surveys were included. The majority of the respondents were aged between 18-25 (89%) and Caucasian (83%) and competing at the regional/British Universities and Colleges Sport/London Universities Sport Leagues level (69%). Menstruation was reported to ‘never’ limit football playing in 17% of respondents, ‘sometimes’ in 47%, ‘rarely’ in 25% and ‘always’ in 10% of respondents. The majority (73%) reported one or more barriers menstruation present to football participation. Following thematic analysis, 165 meaning units, 23 themes and seven categories were identified. Confidence and aerobic capacity/endurance were identified to be the aspects most negatively impacted during the pre-menstrual and menstrual stages. Confidence is likely to be negatively impacted due to the barriers identified. Thus, recommendations on how to reduce these through education of players and involved staff, at the club and the FA level have been made

Research on women’s football: a scoping review

This study aims to scope available peer-reviewed literature published in a FIFA language to understand the current quantity of research on women’s football. Five databases were searched (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus) on the 15/12/2019. Studies were included when containing original research published in a peer-reviewed journal around female competitive football of any level, any age and on any subject. Author, journal, title and abstract of all included studies were scoped. Population assessed, number of participants, level of play, age level of football and publication theme(s) were extracted. A total of 1,634 articles were screened. The oldest publication dated back to 1939, whilst a total of 202 studies were gathered from 2019. The publication theme most frequently researched was sports medicine (N=521) followed by strength and conditioning (N=331) and sociology (N=299). The majority of studies focused on elite (N=442), senior (N=977) players. A continuous growth in research attention has been seen. However, the numbers are not comparable to current research output levels in men’s football. This study represents an essential first step in a larger ‘research agenda setting’ project to determine research priorities for women’s football during the next ten years

Ten questions in Sports Engineering: Technology in elite women’s football

Use of technology in football is increasing, though, products predominantly focus on men’s football in performance, safety, comfort, and fit considerations. A recent scoping review identified just 32 published scientific articles on technology in women’s football, despite demands of those playing/working in the women’s game increasing. We wish to highlight the progressions made so far and barriers remaining in elite women’s football technology to shed a light on this topic and prod researchers and manufacturers to help support the evolution of women’s-football-focussed technological considerations. The ten questions presented in this paper address the generic question on whether women’s specific tailoring is needed (Question 1) as well as addressing specific questions on football technology and engineering such as the progressions made and ongoing issues in the following areas: football kits, religious considerations (hijab designs), sports bras, football boots, balls, football pitches, performance tracking devices, menstrual cycle tracking devices (Question 2-10). It is evidence that certain areas have received more attention than others and with these ten questions we hope to steer readers towards research and engineering gaps for future work

Ten questions in Sports Engineering: Technology in elite women’s football

Use of technology in football is increasing, though, products predominantly focus on men’s football in performance, safety, comfort, and fit considerations. A recent scoping review identified just 32 published scientific articles on technology in women’s football, despite demands of those playing/working in the women’s game increasing. We wish to highlight the progressions made so far and barriers remaining in elite women’s football technology to shed a light on this topic and prod researchers and manufacturers to help support the evolution of women’s-football-focussed technological considerations. The ten questions presented in this paper address the generic question on whether women’s specific tailoring is needed (Question 1) as well as addressing specific questions on football technology and engineering such as the progressions made and ongoing issues in the following areas: football kits, religious considerations (hijab designs), sports bras, football boots, balls, football pitches, performance tracking devices, menstrual cycle tracking devices (Question 2-10). It is evidence that certain areas have received more attention than others and with these ten questions we hope to steer readers towards research and engineering gaps for future work