English FA launches health hub to support female grassroots players

The Female Health Hub combines expert-backed guidance, practical tools and player insights in one dedicated place, giving women and girls the non-judgemental advice and reassurance they need to thrive and feel confident on and off the pitch.

It has four core ambitions:

• Empower women and girls to better understand their bodies and how female health impacts performance and participation.
• Educate players on key health topics and when to seek further advice or support.
• Provide practical strategies to help navigate common female health challenges.
• Help break down taboos and normalise conversations around female health in football.

Users of the hub will also be able to hear directly from members of the England women's national team, who share their own experiences of navigating female health matters while playing at the highest level of the game.

England women's national team players will share their experience of female health mattersGetty Images

Empowering grassroots players

"Our ambition is to create a game where women and girls can thrive," said Sue Day, the FA's director of women's football.

"To achieve that, it's essential that players feel supported in environments that understand and respond to their female health needs. We've heard directly from grassroots players that they want better information and support around female health, but that they often don't know where to find it.

"The launch of the Female Health Hub marks an important step in changing the landscape. We want every player to feel confident in her own skin and supported without judgment, so she can feel empowered by her body, rather than held back by it," said Day.

Providing education on female health

The platform was launched following research conducted by the FA that highlighted the urgent need for better education and support around female health in football.

According to the FA, 88% of adult players surveyed said their menstrual cycle has an impact on their ability to train or play, but 86% reported they had never received education about the menstrual cycle in relation to football performance and training.

The research also found 64% of women experience issues related to sports bras or breast health while playing football, despite sports bras being considered one of the most important pieces of playing kit.

Players also expressed strong interest in learning more about injury prevention (87%), nutrition (84%) and mental health (77%) in relation to female health.

The first phase of the Female Health Hub focuses on three of the most requested topics – menstrual health, breast health and injury resilience – with further content to follow, including on nutrition and pelvic health guidance.