The International Football Association Federation (FIFA) has launched a project focused on the health and performance of women in football. This advancement seeks to address the lack of information and research on the specific needs of female athletes.

The project includes online modules covering 13 critical topics, including pregnancy and fertility, nutrition and recovery.

These modules are the result of peer-reviewed research and data, evidencing the lack of focus on women's sports science, which currently represents only 6% of research in this field.

According to evidence, women are often trained with methods developed for male athletes due to a lack of available information on how to optimize their performance, reports the Associated Press (AP).

Comprehensive training

Beyond athletes, FIFA seeks to train coaches, administrators and support staff at all levels of the sport. The initiative also aims to normalize language and combat taboos related to women's health.

Sarai Bareman, director of women's football, highlighted the importance of the initiative. He stated that his goal is to “optimize the health, well-being and performance of each player,” ensuring that players receive the necessary support according to their specific needs.

This new strategy is based on a pilot project carried out before the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Anatomical, hormonal and strength differences

A female athlete cannot be trained the same as a male athlete because their bodies have key physiological, hormonal, and anatomical differences that affect how they respond to training, recover, and get injured.

What does this mean in practical terms.

Ignoring these differences can cause injury or frustration; Understanding them opens the door to more efficient and healthy training. The basic principles (volume, intensity, rest, nutrition) are the same, but the paths to get there differ.

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