Women in Sport

This research focus centres on a burgeoning body of sport science related work to support the development of female athletes. This includes work spanning biomechanics (including stopping performance in netballers, technique in female fast bowlers), physiology, sport psychology, nutrition and immunology.

Example published work:

1. Comparison of biomechanical characteristics between male and female elite fast bowlers
2. Mental ill-health in semi-elite women’s soccer in England: a mixed-methods approach

Example dissemination work:

• Dr Paul Felton speaking about fast bowling in women’s cricket: BBC World Service - Stumped, 'I want to break the 80mph bowling record'

Pulling together this body of work is the FADP, which supports female athletes on their trajectory towards high performance sport, whilst emphasising health and consistency to ensure longevity in their sporting endeavours: Female Athlete Development Programme. Interested in learning more about the FADP? Find out more about what we can offer.

The research area has a significant focus on professional and/or high performance women’s sport. As the co-editor of two leading texts on the topic (see The Professionalisation of Women’s Sport and Women’s Football in a Global, Professional Era ), Dr. Bowes provides research expertise connected to the professionalisation of women’s sport. Research in this area has covered the development of professional women’s sport and critical issues in the processes of professionalisation, such as maternity and equal pay.

Example published work:

1. The price of success: Equal Pay and the US Women’s National Soccer Team
2. The “cost of football”: motherhood, coaching and work-family conflict

Example dissemination work:

• Dr Ali Bowes co-authored Conversation article on equal pay in women’s sport: https://theconversation.com/women-in-sport-are-winning-the-fight-for-equal-pay-slowly-167943

This research focus encompasses women’s involvement in sport beyond their role as athletes. As women’s sport continues to grow, so does the opportunities for women to be involved in sport in a variety of capacities, such as sport journalism, coaching and as fans

Example published work:

1. ‘We shouldn’t have to ask’: exploring the realities of minority ethnic women football spectators
2. Still the Outsiders? Women in Sport Journalism

Example dissemination work:

• Women’s Game Supporters Survey 2024
• Fans for Diversity x Women’s Game

A key strand of research for the theme is focus on equality of access and opportunity for women and girls’ participation in sport. This work covers girls’ participation in schools and grassroots community sport, the histories of women’s involvement in sport, and seeks to consider intersectional experiences.

Example published work:

1. ‘The first woman football coach… ’: A media study of female American football coaches 1888-1946.
2. Exploring racialised minority women’s lived experiences of negotiating sports boardroom positions in the UK

Example dissemination work:

• Dr. Ali Bowes wrote this public facing report on girls and women’s football: Barclays_Here_For_Every_Goal_Report_Final.pdf

Understanding the implications of the dramatic changes in female sex hormones during menopause on neuromuscular deconditioning and associated lived experiences, alongside examining how fluctuations across the menstrual cycle influence physical performance and the provision of menstrual cycle education within school settings. Additionally, how menstrual stigma impacts participation in sport and exercise.

Example published work:

1. Sex Differences in Neuromuscular Aging: The Role of Sex Hormones
2. The effects of menstrual cycle phase on gastrointestinal responses in a simulated football match

Example dissemination work:

• Lioness Lucy Bronze uses ‘cycle syncing’ to get an edge on her competition — here’s how the practise works
• Dr. Piasecki is part of a wider team known as Period Education, that has researched the impact of varied education received across schools on menstrual and reproductive health. The work has provided interventions that are readily accessible for all schools and should help to improve the knowledge and ultimately future research on females and female athletes.
• Dr Athalie Redwood-Brown writing for the conversation: Why weightlifting is beneficial before and after the menopause

A key focus of this area is optimising sports apparel and equipment for women across the lifespan. This work focuses on enhancing performance, comfort and support in garments and equipment—including sports bras—during pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, menopause, and throughout the menstrual cycle. Using research‑informed, evidence‑based methods, the needs of female users are prioritised, recognising that clothing and equipment should be purposefully designed rather than adapted from male-based design models.

Example published work:

1. Changes in physical activity and breast-related factors during and after pregnancy
2. Assessing current maternity/nursing sports bras and providing recommendations for future product development

For research into injury and illness, world-leading Professor Ian Varley, contributes his expertise on women’s football. Work in the theme is also interested in health and wellness, with new work investigating the role dietary biotics and the gut microbiome to support the health and performance of athlete and non-athlete females across the lifespan.

Example published work:

1. The Football Association Injury and Illness Surveillance Study: The Incidence, Burden, and Severity of Injuries in English Women's Domestic Football—A 5-Year Prospective Cohort Study
2. Injury incidence across the menstrual cycle in international footballers

Example dissemination work:

• Five ways to avoid illness like the Lionesses