In a pioneering move, the Football Association (FA) has set a new precedent by making female health training mandatory for WSL and Championship clubs - becoming the first ever NGB-mandated training on female-specific health. This progressive step involves a comprehensive league-wide support plan developed in collaboration with The Well HQ, specialists in female health strategies in sports.
The initiative stems from the State of Play Project report, which was commissioned by the leagues and The Well HQ. This project surveyed 101 players and 19 support staff in the professional women’s game, leading to the development of recommendations that were released in 2022.
Tailored Training Modules
In October 2023, the 'FootballHER: Continuing Professional Development For All' online course was launched for staff across 24 WSL and Championship league clubs. According to The FA, the "course provides a holistic approach to female health and synthesises up-to-date evidence-based information, packaging and delivering it in an engaging manner, accommodating different learning preferences and providing practical guidance on how to apply this information in varying club environments across the two leagues."
"The modules include Women in Football; Menstrual Cycle & Performance; Kit for Women; Nutrition in Football, Injury Risk & Resilience; Pelvic Health; Fertility & Pre/Post-Natal and Cultivating Environments."
For the first time, WSL and Championship clubs will receive access to new courses and best practice guidelines on…
🤰 Pregnancy
🩸 Menstrual cycle
🩺 Pelvic health
🤝🏽 Pre and post-natal health
🤕 Injury risk
🍎 Nutrition https://t.co/xn0N2u6U0V— Stella Mills (@stellamills__) February 26, 2024
Moreover, clubs are now required to designate an existing member of their support staff as a Female Athlete Health Lead (FAHL). This individual will receive additional support from The Well HQ and play a pivotal role in championing the well-being of female athletes at their respective clubs.
Another project that will be incorporated will be the delivery of "Best Practice Guidelines on Pregnancy & Post-Natal Care, Menstrual Cycle Health and Pelvic Health" throughout 2024. Through working closely with medical staff across England Women, this project will "ensure alignment across the entirety of the women’s professional pathway".
Addressing The Lack Of Maternity Support
The move toward standardised female health training comes after instances of varying support levels for women's health across WSL and Championship clubs. While some players, like Chelsea’s Melanie Leupolz, had access to specialised support during pregnancy (specifically a pelvic floor coach), others, like Emma Mukandi of Reading, criticized the lack of support for new mothers in the game, after she had been left to breast pump in a cupboard after giving birth to daughter Innes in November 2021.
According to The Athletic, the Reading manager at that time Kelly Chambers said the club had supported Mukandi in “the best way we could” with a maternity package for eight and a half months but admitted that “The Women’s game is in its infancy when it comes to handling maternity”.
The Well HQ's Vision
The lack of dedicated research in health and fitness for women's bodies has contributed to a significant knowledge gap, starting before puberty and persisting through various life stages. The Well HQ's data revealed that 80% of players felt inadequately informed about the menstrual cycle.
Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder at The Well HQ, Emma Ross, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this initiative saying, "I can’t stress enough how pioneering this project is. This is saying: ‘This is a non-negotiable. If we’re going to support women in sport really well, this is what we have to do.’”
“This is huge, and it will pave the way for what best practice looks like in the future across all sports – everybody involved should all be very proud that they have played their part in changing sport for women today. We need to be brave enough to challenge the status quo, to kick ‘the way we have always done things’ into touch and forge a new hopeful future where women can thrive.”
Encouraging Collaboration and Future Vision
Ross urged clubs to collaborate on this initiative, recognising that competitive advantage will arise from the depth and effectiveness of their commitment to female health. Andy Hudson, Performance Support Manager for the women’s professional game, highlighted the urgency of improved support due to the escalating demands on players.
"The FA and the league have done some of the heavy-lifting in this, so we’ve reduced the (financial) burden on the clubs by resourcing this, investing in it and making sure there is the associated level of practical support and expertise," Hudson said.
Staff at football clubs across the top two women’s leagues in England will be required to complete mandatory women’s health training under new plans that aim to boost support for female athletes across the professional game.https://t.co/UTCKIbNsMb
— Stylist Magazine (@StylistMagazine) February 27, 2024
“This is just the start of our research in this area, and we look forward to continuing our work with them as we aim to improve education around our athletes’ physical health.”
This landmark move by the FA is not only expected to elevate the standard of care for female footballers but also to serve as a flagship initiative, pushing other sports toward similar progressive measures. The Well HQ is also working on a separate research project on female health in grassroots football, with findings set to be released in the coming months.
