Looking for a specific women’s football research topic?
#SeAcabó: how a mass-mediated “social drama” made visible and confronted (subjective and objective) violence in women’s football in Spain
The article "#SeAcabó: How a Mass-Mediated ‘Social Drama’ Made Visible and Confronted Violence in Women’s Football in Spain" examines how the non-consensual kiss between Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup ignited a widespread social and political response. Using concepts like "moral shock" and "social drama," the study explores how this high-profile incident mobilized public discourse on gender inequality and violence in women's football.
Technical-tactical evolution of women’s football: a comparative analysis of ball possessions in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 and Australia & New Zealand 2023
The article "Technical-Tactical Evolution of Women’s Football: A Comparative Analysis of Ball Possessions in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 and Australia & New Zealand 2023" examines how women’s football has evolved in terms of ball possession and game control. By analyzing 4,669 ball possessions from both tournaments, the study identifies significant increases in possession time, passing accuracy, and structured team play.
Testing the validity of 360-video for analysing visual exploratory activity in soccer
The article "Testing the Validity of 360-Video for Analyzing Visual Exploratory Activity in Soccer" examines the effectiveness of 360-degree video technology in assessing how players scan their surroundings before making decisions on the field.
The “cost of football”: motherhood, coaching and work-family conflict
The article "The Cost of Football: Motherhood, Coaching, and Work-Family Conflict" by Isabel Martin and Ali Bowes examines the struggles faced by professional female football coaches who are also mothers. Through interviews with four full-time coaches in England, the study highlights the challenges of balancing a coaching career with motherhood.
Female Footballers Matter: Timeslive Coverage of South Africa’s Women’s Football Team Performance At 2023 FIFA World Cup
The article "Female Footballers Matter: TimesLIVE Coverage of South Africa’s Women’s Football Team Performance at the 2023 FIFA World Cup" analyzes how South African media portrayed the national women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, during the tournament. Through a critical discourse analysis of eleven articles published by TimesLIVE, the study examines how media representation influenced public perception and policy responses.
Club Days at Scottish Women’s Football: SWPL Fan Engagement Report.
The report "Club Days at Scottish Women’s Football: SWPL Fan Engagement Report" provides an in-depth analysis of fan engagement in the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL). The study highlights the league’s rapid growth in attendance, media visibility, and commercial investment since its formation in 2022.
Effect of Q angle on some performance parameters in adolescent female football players
The article "Effect of Q Angle on Some Performance Parameters in Adolescent Female Football Players" examines how the Q angle (the angle formed by the quadriceps and patellar tendon) influences lower limb performance in young female footballers. The study finds that a larger Q angle negatively affects vertical jump performance, as it alters knee biomechanics and reduces mechanical efficiency.
Incidence and burden of 671 injuries in professional women footballers: time to focus on context-specific injury risk reduction strategies
The article "Incidence and Burden of 671 Injuries in Professional Women Footballers: Time to Focus on Context-Specific Injury Risk Reduction Strategies" examines injury patterns in a professional women’s football team over two seasons.
Career development in Women Football Refereeing: an exploratory study in Portugal and Spain
The article "Career Development in Women’s Football Refereeing: An Exploratory Study in Portugal and Spain" examines the challenges and opportunities for female referees in a male-dominated sport. Based on a survey of 427 referees, the study identifies key factors influencing recruitment, retention, and career progression.
A critical feminist analysis of women’s football in Türkiye: Challenges, opportunities, and societal implications
The article "A Critical Feminist Analysis of Women’s Football in Türkiye: Challenges, Opportunities, and Societal Implications" examines the development of women’s football in Türkiye through a feminist lens, highlighting social, economic, and institutional challenges. The study, based on interviews with female players and male coaches, identifies key issues such as gender stereotypes, financial disparities, limited visibility, and regional inequalities.
Gender Equity in Sponsor Decision-Making: A Quantitative Investigation of Sponsor Retention for Women’s Sport Sponsorship
The article "Gender Equity in Sponsor Decision-Making: A Quantitative Investigation of Sponsor Retention for Women’s Sport Sponsorship" by Jonathan A. Jensen and Danielle Kushner Smith explores whether companies are equally likely to renew sponsorships for women’s sports as they are for men’s. Analyzing over 750 event title sponsorships, the study finds no significant difference in retention rates between male and female sports sponsorships.
Women’s football, sexism and media representation: Contextualising the Rubiales/Hermoso kiss
The article "Women’s Football, Sexism, and Media Representation: Contextualizing the Rubiales/Hermoso Kiss" by Eleanor Crabill examines the media coverage and broader implications of the non-consensual kiss between Luis Rubiales, then-president of the Spanish Football Federation, and Spanish player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup celebrations. The study situates this event within the historical marginalization of women’s football and ongoing issues of sexism in sports governance.
‘I feel I must work harder and still be overlooked’ – How the implementation of video assistant referee (VAR) influences gendered recruitment and working conditions in elite football refereeing
The article "I Feel I Must Work Harder and Still Be Overlooked" – How the Implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Influences Gendered Recruitment and Working Conditions in Elite Football Refereeing examines how VAR implementation has affected gender equity in refereeing. Through fieldwork on Norwegian elite referees, the study highlights that VAR has created new barriers for women by increasing workload demands and reinforcing existing gendered recruitment biases.
Team resilience in high-performance women’s football: Contextual stressors and opportunities for development
The study explores team resilience in high-performance women’s football, identifying key stressors, effective resilience practices, and gaps in development. Through focus groups and expert consultations, researchers found that teams face both organizational and on-pitch challenges.
Addressing gender inequalities in European football: Key dimensions and strategies
The article "Addressing Gender Inequalities in European Football: Key Dimensions and Strategies" by George Yiapanas examines the persistent disparities between men’s and women’s football in Europe, despite the growing popularity and professionalism of the women’s game. It identifies six key areas of inequality: participation rates, pay disparity, media coverage, leadership representation, infrastructural support, and cultural biases.
Therapeutic Exercise Protocol for the Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Soccer Players with Dynamic Knee Valgus (RCT)
The article "Therapeutic Exercise Protocol for the Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Soccer Players with Dynamic Knee Valgus (RCT)" presents a study protocol aimed at reducing ACL injuries in female soccer players. Given that women are at a significantly higher risk for ACL injuries due to biomechanical and neuromuscular factors, the study introduces a 12-week intervention program focusing on players with dynamic knee valgus (DKV), a key risk factor.
A Lot of Men Have Definitely Gotten Over the Whole ‘No One Wants to Watch Women’s Sports’ Thing”: Fan Perceptions of the Masculinization of Women’s Soccer Fandom
The article "A Lot of Men Have Definitely Gotten Over the Whole ‘No One Wants to Watch Women’s Sports’ Thing” by Rachel Allison and Radosław Kossakowski examines the growing presence of male fans in women’s professional soccer. Through interviews with 35 U.S. women’s soccer fans in 2019 and 2023, the study explores shifting perceptions of men’s engagement with the sport.
The Unstoppable Rise of Mexican Women’s Soccer
The report "The Unstoppable Rise of Mexican Women’s Soccer" provides a detailed overview of the rapid growth and commercialization of Liga MX Femenil, the professional women’s soccer league in Mexico.
International Competitions, Star Players, and NWSL Attendance
The article "International Competitions, Star Players, and NWSL Attendance" by E. Frank Stephenson investigates factors influencing match attendance in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) from 2013 to 2019.
Linear and Multidirectional Speed Testing (On-Field and Off-Field) Protocols in Senior and Elite Female Football
The article "Linear and Multidirectional Speed Testing (On-Field and Off-Field) Protocols in Senior and Elite Female Football" provides a comprehensive review of current methods used to evaluate speed and agility in female soccer players. It highlights the distinct physiological and biomechanical demands of women's soccer, emphasizing the importance of tailored speed testing for both linear and multidirectional movements.