Auditing the representation of elite female players in football performance and injury research

This audit assessed the representation of elite female footballers in performance and injury research and evaluated the consideration of ovarian hormones within this research. A standardised audit of performance and injury research in elite football was conducted, systematically reviewing studies to quantify the inclusion of elite female players and the consideration of ovarian hormone profiles. A total of 722 studies were included. Female-only research has increased in recent years, with 47% (<i>n</i> = 44) of all female-only studies published since 2022. However, male-only studies dominate, comprising 83% (<i>n</i> = 600) of all studies. Female-only studies accounted for 13% of all research, with women representing 7% of all participants. Only one study investigated injury characteristics and recovery in exclusively female players. Of the 104 studies including female players, 96% did not provide sufficient information to define menstrual status. Only four studies offered enough detail to be evaluated using the tiering system by Smith etal. (2022b): 2.5 were ranked ungraded (menstrual status defined but with insufficient methodological control), 1.5 ranked bronze tier (some methodological control). No study was classified as gold tier, which indicates best practice. Our findings show elite female footballers remain significantly underrepresented, particularly in studies examining injury characteristics and recovery, with minimal consideration of ovarian hormones. To advance the field and improve methodological quality, future research must use robust objective measures (e.g. ovulation testing or progesterone monitoring) to determine ovarian hormone profiles and ensure sex-balanced representation across all research themes to accelerate the development of the women's game.