Advancing Women's Soccer: Historical Growth and Challenges Concerning Athlete Health and Diversity
A summary of the research:
This article highlights the significant growth of women's soccer, especially in the United States with the success of the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT). However, it also points out two major challenges that are holding the sport back: the high number of knee injuries, particularly ACL tears, among female players, and the ongoing lack of diversity, specifically the underrepresentation of Black women at all levels of the sport. The article emphasizes that these challenges are connected and need to be addressed together.
The review explores why these knee injuries occur, looking at how female athletes' bodies move differently (their biomechanics), and how current soccer footwear may not be designed effectively for women's unique needs. It also examines the systemic barriers and unfair obstacles that prevent Black women from participating and succeeding in soccer. The core message is that new, interdisciplinary approaches are necessary to ensure the continued growth and well-being of all participants in women's soccer.
Here are three key practical takeaways from the article's findings:
Focus on Female-Specific Injury Prevention Training: Female soccer players have a higher risk of knee injuries, especially non-contact ACL tears, due to biomechanical differences like increased knee valgus (knees collapsing inward), different landing mechanics (less knee flexion), and potentially imbalanced muscle activation patterns (hamstring vs. quadriceps).
Practical Application: Coaches should implement targeted injury prevention programs that specifically address these biomechanical factors. This includes training focusing on proper landing techniques, improving cutting and pivoting movements, and strengthening the hamstrings to better support the knee and reduce stress on the ACL.
Prioritize Footwear Designed for Female Athletes: A major issue is that soccer cleats are often designed primarily for male athletes and then simply scaled down for women. This fails to account for the distinct anatomical features of the female foot, such as a narrower heel, wider forefoot, and higher arch. Ill-fitting cleats can lead to discomfort, pain, blisters, and, crucially, increase the risk of injuries by negatively impacting agility, stability, and contributing to rotational forces at the knee.
Practical Application: Coaches and administrators should advocate for and encourage the use of women-specific soccer cleats when available. They should also provide feedback to sportswear companies about the need for designs that truly accommodate female foot morphology and minimize rotational torque to reduce lower extremity injuries.
Actively Promote Diversity and Inclusion for Black Women: There is a significant underrepresentation of Black women in soccer at various levels, from youth leagues to professional teams. This is influenced by socioeconomic barriers, limited access to quality training facilities and competitive teams, biased talent evaluation, and a lack of culturally relevant support systems and role models.
Practical Application: Organizations should invest in programs that increase access to the sport for marginalized communities, such as offering scholarships or subsidized training opportunities. They should also work to develop equitable talent identification processes and actively promote a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that Black female athletes have visible role models and supportive pathways for advancement.
Authors: Maxwell Prempeh & Colin G. Pennington
You can read the entire article here.
