Paying the penalty
Sports scientists have warned female football players could be at greater risk of injury because of kit designed for men. Researchers identified ten questions about football technology that need to be addressed to help the women’s game. These included the design of boots and balls, sports bras, religious considerations such as wearing hijabs and menstrual tracking devices.
They revealed that only one female-specific football boot is currently available – produced by a start-up company – despite a problem with anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the elite women’s game which could be helped by a change in footwear design.
And unlike other sports such as basketball and handball, no adjustments are made to the size and weight of the ball.
Writing in Sports Engineering, they said: “More products based on an enhanced understanding of women’s specific needs are required to optimise performance, safety, and the overall experience for women’s footballers.
“Advancements are being made but these are often reliant on anecdotal evidence. A concerted effort is therefore needed from a research perspective to establish an evidence base to inform development of technologies that optimise performance and health.”
