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Career patterns within men’s and women’s soccer talent systems: the typical pathway to the top is atypical
This study examines career pathways in women's soccer, challenging the traditional belief that early recruitment into professional academies guarantees future elite success. Researchers analyzed nearly 3,000 Dutch male and female youth players and found that only around 10% of those recruited into academies reached elite senior soccer.
An Inside Look at the French Football Federation’s Women’s Football Diplomacy with Iraq: Inspiring every girl in Iraq to play football
This study examines the French Football Federation’s (FFF) women’s football diplomacy initiative with Iraq, an effort to promote women’s football development as a form of international engagement. Launched in 2021, the program provided training for over 200 Iraqi players and coaches through a series of workshops in Iraq and France.
The Effect of Pitch Surface on Match Running Performance in Women’s Soccer
This study examined how playing on artificial turf (AT) versus natural grass (NG) affects match running performance in elite women’s soccer. Researchers analyzed data from 22 matches in the Slovenian Women’s First League, tracking total distance covered (TD), high-intensity running (HIR), accelerations (HIA), and decelerations (HID).
The opportunities and challenges facing participation indifferent types of women’s football in England
The article explores the opportunities and challenges surrounding women's football participation in England. It highlights how UK sports policy recognizes the importance of increasing female participation in football to address gender inequality in sports. Despite positive efforts by football authorities, there has been little formal statistical analysis of the factors influencing participation. Using a socio-ecological framework and economic theory, the study analyzes data from over 88,000 women and 68,000 men across 309 local authorities.
Goal and shot prediction in ball possessions in FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: a machine learning approach
The article "Goal and Shot Prediction in Ball Possessions in FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: A Machine Learning Approach" explores the use of machine learning to predict goal-scoring opportunities in elite women’s football. Researchers analyzed 2,346 ball possessions and developed predictive models using Random Forest and XGBoost techniques.
#SeAcabó: how a mass-mediated “social drama” made visible and confronted (subjective and objective) violence in women’s football in Spain
The article "#SeAcabó: How a Mass-Mediated ‘Social Drama’ Made Visible and Confronted Violence in Women’s Football in Spain" examines how the non-consensual kiss between Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup ignited a widespread social and political response. Using concepts like "moral shock" and "social drama," the study explores how this high-profile incident mobilized public discourse on gender inequality and violence in women's football.
Female Footballers Matter: Timeslive Coverage of South Africa’s Women’s Football Team Performance At 2023 FIFA World Cup
The article "Female Footballers Matter: TimesLIVE Coverage of South Africa’s Women’s Football Team Performance at the 2023 FIFA World Cup" analyzes how South African media portrayed the national women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, during the tournament. Through a critical discourse analysis of eleven articles published by TimesLIVE, the study examines how media representation influenced public perception and policy responses.
Career development in Women Football Refereeing: an exploratory study in Portugal and Spain
The article "Career Development in Women’s Football Refereeing: An Exploratory Study in Portugal and Spain" examines the challenges and opportunities for female referees in a male-dominated sport. Based on a survey of 427 referees, the study identifies key factors influencing recruitment, retention, and career progression.
A critical feminist analysis of women’s football in Türkiye: Challenges, opportunities, and societal implications
The article "A Critical Feminist Analysis of Women’s Football in Türkiye: Challenges, Opportunities, and Societal Implications" examines the development of women’s football in Türkiye through a feminist lens, highlighting social, economic, and institutional challenges. The study, based on interviews with female players and male coaches, identifies key issues such as gender stereotypes, financial disparities, limited visibility, and regional inequalities.
‘I feel I must work harder and still be overlooked’ – How the implementation of video assistant referee (VAR) influences gendered recruitment and working conditions in elite football refereeing
The article "I Feel I Must Work Harder and Still Be Overlooked" – How the Implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Influences Gendered Recruitment and Working Conditions in Elite Football Refereeing examines how VAR implementation has affected gender equity in refereeing. Through fieldwork on Norwegian elite referees, the study highlights that VAR has created new barriers for women by increasing workload demands and reinforcing existing gendered recruitment biases.
Addressing gender inequalities in European football: Key dimensions and strategies
The article "Addressing Gender Inequalities in European Football: Key Dimensions and Strategies" by George Yiapanas examines the persistent disparities between men’s and women’s football in Europe, despite the growing popularity and professionalism of the women’s game. It identifies six key areas of inequality: participation rates, pay disparity, media coverage, leadership representation, infrastructural support, and cultural biases.
Extending the Dixon and Coles model: an application to women’s football data
The article "Extending the Dixon and Coles Model: An Application to Women’s Football Data" by Michels, Ötting, and Karlis explores statistical methods to model goal distributions in women’s football. It addresses limitations in the widely used Dixon and Coles model, which was developed for men’s football and struggles to account for key differences in women’s matches, such as overrepresentation of scores like 2-0 and 3-0.
Examining barriers and reasons for sport retirement in women's soccer: A qualitative study
The article "Examining Barriers and Reasons for Sport Retirement in Women's Soccer: A Qualitative Study" explores the challenges female soccer players face in continuing their careers and the factors leading to their early retirement. Based on interviews with 14 former players from Spanish national-level teams, the study identifies six major barriers to participation, including lack of time, financial limitations, and gender inequality.
A Bibliometric Study on the Evolution of Women’s Football and Determinants Behind Its Growth over the Last 30 Years
The article "A Bibliometric Study on the Evolution of Women’s Football and Determinants Behind Its Growth over the Last 30 Years" provides an overview of the academic research landscape surrounding women’s football from 1992 to 2024. Using bibliometric analysis of 127 scientific articles, the study identifies trends in publication growth, leading contributors, and popular research topics such as injury prevention, physical performance, and motivation.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Politics, Representation, & Management
"The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Politics, Representation, and Management" provides an in-depth exploration of the tournament's significance as a landmark event in the evolution of women’s football.
Staying in or Dropping Out of Elite Women's Football—Factors of Importance
The article "Staying in or Dropping Out of Elite Women's Football—Factors of Importance" investigates the reasons behind early career termination or continuation among female elite soccer players in Norway.
A data-driven analysis of the technical and tactical evolution of elite women's football
The article "A Data-Driven Analysis of the Technical and Tactical Evolution of Elite Women's Football" by Lotte Bransen and Jesse Davis explores changes in women’s football from 2013 to 2022 by analyzing over 3,500 matches from top leagues and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Power and Finesse: How the United States’ and Australia’s Women’s National Soccer Teams Score for Equal Pay Women’s National Soccer Teams Score for Equal Pay
The article "Power and Finesse: How the United States' and Australia's Women's National Soccer Teams Score for Equal Pay" by Arianna Amato analyzes the legal and social strategies used by the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) and Australia’s Matildas to achieve equal pay with their male counterparts.
Talent identification and development strategies in elite women’s soccer: a pan-European perspective
This study investigated the key factors deemed important by elite women’s soccer clubs concerning the: 1) identification of potential talent; 2) development of players within the player pathway; and 3) selection of players for the next age group or senior team.
Mapping the field: A bibliometric analysis of women's football research trends and future directions
This study reviews the scholarly literature on women's football using bibliometric data from Scopus from 1984 to February 2024.