Looking for a specific women’s football research topic?
Career patterns within men’s and women’s soccer talent systems: the typical pathway to the top is atypical
This study examines career pathways in women's soccer, challenging the traditional belief that early recruitment into professional academies guarantees future elite success. Researchers analyzed nearly 3,000 Dutch male and female youth players and found that only around 10% of those recruited into academies reached elite senior soccer.
Knee and ACL injury rates in NCAA soccer players: an epidemiological study of 10 consecutive seasons
This study examines knee and ACL injury rates in NCAA men’s and women’s soccer over 10 seasons (2009-2019). Using data from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program, researchers found that knee injuries were more common in women’s soccer than in men’s, with an injury rate of 14.87 per 10,000 athlete exposures (AEs) compared to 10.81 in men’s soccer.
Normative Performance Test Metrics in Professional Female Club Soccer
This study establishes normative performance metrics for professional women’s soccer players, focusing on key lower-body strength and power tests. Researchers evaluated 28 players from an NWSL club using three common performance assessments: the Counter-Movement Jump (CMJ), Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP), and Nordic Hamstring Curl (NHC). The results showed that professional female players had an average jump height of 28.9 cm, peak vertical force of 1869 N in the IMTP, and notable limb asymmetries in hamstring strength.
"Pass it to your girlfriend!": A collaborative autoethnography of a friendship through women's sports fandom
This study is a collaborative autoethnography that explores how women's sports fandom—particularly in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)—shapes personal relationships, identity, and community. The authors, both passionate fans, discuss their experiences of joy and frustration within women's sports spaces, particularly regarding issues of race, gender, and commercialization.
Equal Pass: Comparing Passing Networks of England’s Top Women’s and Men’s Football Leagues
This study compares passing networks in England’s top women’s and men’s football leagues using social network analysis. Researchers analyzed 328 FA Women’s Super League matches and 760 English Premier League matches, focusing on metrics such as passing density, team connectivity, and player influence.
An Inside Look at the French Football Federation’s Women’s Football Diplomacy with Iraq: Inspiring every girl in Iraq to play football
This study examines the French Football Federation’s (FFF) women’s football diplomacy initiative with Iraq, an effort to promote women’s football development as a form of international engagement. Launched in 2021, the program provided training for over 200 Iraqi players and coaches through a series of workshops in Iraq and France.
Understanding fan pressures and its impact on football club sustainability: insights from the Colombian context
This study examines how fan expectations and pressures impact the sustainability of Colombian football clubs, with a specific focus on economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Researchers surveyed fans from various Colombian clubs to analyze their influence on club management decisions.
Marta versus Neymar: the “war of the sexes” at the 2016 Olympic games in the narratives of sports journalism in Brazil
This study analyzes the media coverage of Brazil’s men’s and women’s national football teams during the 2016 Olympic Games, focusing on how gendered narratives shaped public perception. By examining articles from Brazil’s two largest newspapers, O Globo and Folha de São Paulo, researchers found that coverage framed the tournament as a symbolic "war of the sexes" between Neymar, the men’s team captain, and Marta, the women’s team star.
Assessing the Relationship Between Pre- and Post-Game Interpersonal Emotions in Women’s Football Teams
This study explores the relationship between pre-game and post-game interpersonal emotions in women’s football teams. Researchers examined how collective emotions (shared feelings within a team) and group-based emotions (an individual’s emotions about their team) interact before and after matches.
Exploring the determinants of women football players’ Instagram popularity
This study examines the factors that influence the Instagram popularity of women’s football players, focusing on how team branding, media recognition, and market size impact follower count and engagement. Using data from 1,386 professional women’s football players across five major European leagues, researchers found that account verification and a large team audience positively influenced a player's social media following and engagement.
The Effect of Pitch Surface on Match Running Performance in Women’s Soccer
This study examined how playing on artificial turf (AT) versus natural grass (NG) affects match running performance in elite women’s soccer. Researchers analyzed data from 22 matches in the Slovenian Women’s First League, tracking total distance covered (TD), high-intensity running (HIR), accelerations (HIA), and decelerations (HID).
Seasonal Changes in the Physical Performance of Elite Youth Female Soccer Players
This study examined how the physical performance of elite youth female soccer players changed over a season. Researchers tracked 113 players (ages U10 to U16) and measured their speed, strength, power, change of direction (CoD), and aerobic fitness at three points during the season (pre-, mid-, and post-season).
Non-contact injury incidence in professional women’s football depends on the starting status of the player
This study examined the relationship between playing time and non-contact injury risk in professional women’s soccer players. Researchers tracked 37 players from a Spanish professional team over two seasons, categorizing them as starters (playing >70% of matches) or non-starters.
The incidence and burden of concussion in men’s and women’s English professional football
The study explores the incidence and burden of concussions in elite English football, comparing both men's and women's international and domestic levels. Between 2012 and 2022, data from 327 concussion injuries were analyzed. It was found that concussions represented a higher percentage of all injuries in women's international (7%) and domestic football (5%) compared to men's international (3%) and domestic football (2%).
Analysis of running performance in the two main Spanish Women’s football leagues: A case study
This study analyzed the running performance of players in Spain’s top two women’s football leagues, focusing on training sessions and match demands. Data from 32 players over two seasons revealed that competition matches required significantly higher physical effort than training sessions, with only the post-match session (MD+1) occasionally surpassing match demands in sprinting and high-speed running.
Relationship Between Anthropometric Profile, Body Composition, and Physical Performance in Spanish Professional Female Soccer Players at Pre-Season Onset: A Cross-Sectional Study
This study examines how body composition affects the physical performance of professional female soccer players at the start of pre-season. The findings reveal a strong correlation between muscle mass and anaerobic power, while fat mass negatively impacts explosive strength, aerobic performance, and recovery capacity.
Analysis of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Elite Female Soccer Players: cohort study in one Brazilian Team
The article "Analysis of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Elite Female Soccer Players: A Cohort Study in One Brazilian Team" investigates the risk factors for lower limb injuries in elite women's soccer. The study followed 27 players over four months, analyzing physical attributes such as trunk mobility, hip stability, and flexibility.
Individual changes in neuromuscular performance in the Spanish women’s national football team throughout the 2023 World Cup
The article "Neuromuscular Performance During the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup" examines how physical performance evolved throughout the tournament for the Spanish women's national football team. The study tracked 20 elite players, assessing their strength and power using countermovement jumps (CMJ) and estimated one-repetition maximums (1RM) for back squats (BS) and hip thrusts (HT).
Optimizing Scanning in Youth Female Football: The Role of Verbal Instructions
The article "Optimizing Scanning in Youth Female Football: The Role of Verbal Instructions" examines how verbal instructions can improve visual exploration skills in young female soccer players. The study involved 25 elite U19 players who participated in small-sided games (4v4) under two conditions—one with verbal scanning prompts and one without.
Better the Devil You Know: Managers’ Networks, Hiring Decisions and Team Performance
The article "Better the Devil You Know: Managers’ Networks, Hiring Decisions, and Team Performance" examines how managers in professional football use their personal networks to make hiring decisions and how this impacts team performance. By analyzing data from both men’s and women’s football, the study finds that managers are significantly more likely to recruit players they have previously worked with, particularly for lower-cost, non-star players.