WOMEN-KICK

WOMEN-KICK is an Erasmus+ Sport initiative dedicated to professionalizing female football through a science-backed, gender-specific educational framework. Recognizing that training models have historically been designed for male athletes, this project develops tailored resources for coaches, trainers, and female athletes. By bringing together a consortium of 6 partners from 5 EU countries—including universities and sports associations—the project seeks to optimize performance while prioritizing the long-term health of female players.
Key Pillars & Focus Areas

  • Injury Prevention: Developing specific protocols to address the higher prevalence of certain injuries (such as ACL tears) in female football players through biomechanical awareness and conditioning.
  • Menstrual Health Management: Creating evidence-based resources to help athletes and coaches understand how hormonal cycles affect performance and recovery.
  • Personalized Training Adaptation: Moving away from “one-size-fits-all” coaching by teaching trainers how to adapt intensity and recovery based on female physiology.
  • Optimized Nutrition Strategies: Tailoring dietary guidance to the specific metabolic and energy requirements of female athletes to maximize on-field performance and hormonal balance.
  • Digital Learning Platform: A centralized hub providing evidence-based tools, pilot solutions, and best practices for football clubs and educational institutions across Europe.

Expected Impact

  • Professionalization of Coaching: Upskilling European football coaches with the specific physiological knowledge required to manage female teams effectively.
  • Athlete Longevity: Reducing burnout and career-ending injuries among young female players through better health education and preventive care.
  • Inclusive Education: Promoting a more inclusive sports environment that recognizes and supports the biological differences of female athletes as a strength rather than a barrier.
  • Cross-Border Collaboration: Establishing a permanent network between SMEs, academia, and sports associations to continuously evolve female-centric sports science.

“WOMEN-KICK is not just about playing the game; it’s about rewriting the playbook to ensure female footballers have the gender-specific support they need to thrive at every level.”