Working in women’s football: Injury prevention, game demands and menstrual cycle tracking
Sep 7, 2023
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Experts in women's football discuss the relevance of menstrual cycle tracking in training and performance. They emphasize the need for tailored approaches and collaboration within the women's football community. Gender-neutral perspective on eccentric training and the importance of education in menstrual health are highlighted. Challenges faced by women footballers in game schedule and recovery are explored, along with training principles in women's football and the potential link between menstrual cycle and ACL injury risk.
Standardizing threshold values for high speed running and sprinting in women's football would benefit data comparison and performance analysis.
Addressing menstrual health and providing support structures for players are essential in enhancing performance and injury prevention in women's football.
Optimizing training programs in women's football involves periodizing different physical qualities based on individual goals and targeting specific qualities throughout the week.
Deep dives
Differences in Demands Between Men's and Women's Football
The demands of men's and women's football are similar in terms of total distance covered, but there are differences in high speed running and high intensity actions. When using female-specific thresholds, the differences are not significant. With the increased professionalism of the women's game, the demands are rising, including high intensity running and actions.
Standardization of Thresholds in Women's Football
There is a lack of standardization in threshold values for women's football. Different clubs and teams use varying thresholds for high speed running and sprinting. This lack of uniformity makes it difficult to compare data and analyze performance consistently. Standardizing thresholds across the women's game would be beneficial.
Focus on Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement in Women's Football
In women's football, there is a strong focus on injury prevention alongside performance enhancement. Constructing robust athletes and improving performance go hand in hand, resulting in a lower injury rate. Profiling, screening, and monitoring players are crucial for injury prevention. Additionally, menstrual cycle tracking is considered, but implementing phase-based training in a team environment is challenging due to the complexities of menstrual cycles and hormonal contraceptives. However, addressing menstrual health and providing support structures for players are essential to enhance performance.
Periodization and Goal-Oriented Training
The podcast episode discusses the importance of assessing the efficacy of a training program and adjusting it week to week based on individual goals. The team mentioned that they follow a typical approach of periodizing different physical qualities on different days of the week, aligning their training sessions with specific goals for each day. For example, they focus on extensive prep in the gym and sprinting mechanics on certain days, and they incorporate high-speed running volume on game days. This goal-oriented training approach allows them to optimize their training program and target specific physical qualities throughout the week.
ACL Injury Prevention and Strength Training
Another key topic discussed in the podcast episode is ACL injury prevention in women's football. The team acknowledges the complexity of ACL injuries and the need for further research in this area. Their approach to prevention includes focusing on breaking under load in the gym, doing landing work with perturbation and variety, and gradually progressing players to higher levels of complexity. They also emphasized the importance of strength training as a foundational element for all physical qualities. The team recognizes that the increase in demands and schedule congestion in women's football can contribute to higher injury rates, highlighting the need for better management strategies and a global reevaluation of the structure and scheduling of the women's game.
In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast Rob is speaking to three experts in the area of women's football, Strength and Conditioning Coach at Manchester United Women, Jack Clover, Reader in Sports Performance at Leeds Beckett, Stacey Emmonds, and Head of Sport Science at The Matildas, Jack Sharkey.
One of the central discussions revolves around menstrual cycle monitoring and its relevance to training and performance. They emphasize the importance of understanding menstrual health beyond just phase-based training, shedding light on the broader spectrum of menstrual-related issues and their impact on athletes' well-being and availability.
The trio also tackles the challenge of setting appropriate training thresholds for female athletes in an environment where the demands are constantly evolving. They highlight the need for a more tailored approach and collaboration within the women's football community to establish science-based standards.
Eccentric training, often a hot topic in sports science, is examined from a gender-neutral perspective. Stacey, Jack, and Sharkey stress the significance of evaluating individual athlete profiles and training age when considering the integration of flywheel training into a program.
Throughout the episode, the experts emphasize the critical role of education in women's football. They discuss the importance of educating both athletes and practitioners about menstrual health, debunking myths, and promoting healthy practices.
With a wealth of experience in the field, Stacey, Jack, and Sharkey offer valuable insights into the unique challenges and opportunities within women's football. Their commitment to evidence-based practices and their dedication to improving athlete well-being make this episode a must-listen for sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches and rehabilitation professionals about advancing women's football. Tune in for an engaging discussion that transcends the game and dives deep into the science behind female athlete performance.
Main talking points:
Menstrual health beyond phase-based training
Tailored thresholds for evolving demands
Eccentric training for health and performance
Importance of athlete education
Bridging research and practice
Understanding individual athlete profiles
Collaboration for science-based standards
Advancing women's football performance
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