Current USWNT coach Emma Hayes earned praise for tailoring training to menstrual cycles while at Chelsea. Players’ cycles, once deemed to be a minor inconvenience, are now seen as potential keys to unlock big gains in performance
In 1921, the English Football Association banned women’s soccer, declaring the game “unsuitable for females”. The sport has reclaimed its place on the world stage over the subsequent century-plus, but another outdated notion persists; that the players’ menstrual cycles are just an inconvenience rather than a key performance variable worth studying.
Now, a collection of researchers and medical professionals are lending their expertise to what could be the sport’s next big evolution.
“The starting point is that we are women and, ultimately, we go through something very different to men on a monthly basis,” said current USWNT manager Emma Hayes in 2020 , when as manager of Chelsea Women she was one of the first major coaches in the women’s game to tailor her team’s training around the players’ cycles. “It comes from a place of wanting to know more about ourselves and understanding how we can improve our performance.” Each phase’s impact
The menstrual cycle consists of four phases over approximately 28 days: menstrual, follicular, ovulation and luteal. Each phase affects the body differently, influencing optimal training and nutrition strategies.
The menstrual phase (typically days one to five) is when bleeding occurs, and estrogen and progesterone levels are at their lowest. This hormonal dip can lead to fatigue and reduced energy levels. During this […]
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