Canadian football player Janine Beckie is advocating for better research and funding to address the injury crisis in women’s football. Beckie, a forward for the Portland Thorns, is one of many players who will miss the upcoming Women’s World Cup due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee. She believes that if male footballers were experiencing the same injury rates, more attention would be given to finding solutions. Women involved in sports that require sudden deceleration or changes in direction, such as football, are up to six times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than men. However, gender-specific research into the issue is lacking.
According to Alex Culvin of global players’ union FIFPRO, women are often treated as “little men” in the world of sports, with little attention paid to gender-specific factors that can impact injury rates. Surgeon Stephen Guy believes that a combination of anatomical differences, muscle fatigue, and psychosocial factors such as access to top-level facilities and coaches can all contribute to injuries in women’s football. Culvin notes that while FIFA has provided research-based information on ACL prevention, this information is not always integrated into club practices.
Beckie argues that female football players are often conditioned to accept that they have fewer resources than their male counterparts. She also notes that while the schedules for women’s football have become busier, the level of care and resources provided has not kept pace. Beckie emphasizes that elite athletes playing 50-plus games per season require top-of-the-line care to maintain fitness levels and avoid injury.
Overall, it is clear that more needs to be done to address the injury crisis in women’s football. Gender-specific research, better funding and access to resources, and a greater focus on player health and safety are all crucial factors in improving the situation.