Another one..this time Matilda & Chelsea powerhouse Sam Kerr. 87 players high profile players since 2021 out with ACL injuries, missing major tournaments. But why? With the increase in viewership of women's sports, it has put a microscope on these athletes. It has highlighted an age old problem in female soccer players. And the cause is as old as the problem. In the YouTube docuseries Step by Step, Arsenal WSL players and national team stars Beth Mead (England) and Viv Midema (Netherlands) both tore their ACL within one month of each other. The crazy plot twist being that they are also partners. And they would not be the only 2, 2 other teammates that season would tear their ACLs (Leah Williamson and Laura Wienroither). The documentary chronicles the players' return to the pitch, but again asks the question why? There are varying theories as to why there is such a proponderance of ACL injuries in women's soccer: 1️⃣ Female menstral cycles causing joints to be more loose at certain times of the month, but most scientists have not been able to draw a link between the two 2️⃣ Improper equipment, with women often having to wear gear designed for men (I myself always wore male cleats when I played), which has some credibility and traction. Major brands are starting to design female specific cleats and full brands are making female only gear (IDA Sports) 3️⃣ Compressed competition schedule, not allowing for proper rest - this is very true and something the leagues and tournament hosts need to gain a better handle on ❗ BUT the biggest reason to me, and what has always been the #1 issue is inequitable facilities and resources (including staff). In Step by Step, Midema highlights how boys start their academy programs at age 9 (most girls it is much later, late teens) and that the boys teams have a dedicated strength and conditioning coach with them from 9 years old-onward. Girls don't get any of that until 18. And then when it comes to facilities, girls teams have always gotten the shaft. When I was in high school, the girls teams (varsity and JV) weren't allowed to practice at the high school because there wasn't enough room. The boys were given the better field at the school and we had to travel to the local middle school with rocks on the field and where we had to set up our own goals everyday. We were one of the top 10 ranked teams in the state at the time, made it to states all 4 years and where over 50% of the players got recruited to play in college....but we were still an afterthought. 💡 So we have players wearing gear that is no made for them, playing compressed schedules with no rest, with improper training and on subpar pitches, no wonder we have so many ACL injuries. While I hate to see so many players get injuried, I hope it's finally a wakeup call to the soccer community at large that something needs to be done. We need to protect our players. #womenssports #womenssoccer #acl #injuryprevention
Another high profile women's soccer star has suffered another ACL injury. Sam Kerr, superstar striker for Chelsea and the Australia women’s national soccer team, became the latest player to tear her ACL while training with her club. Kerr has been ruled out of the remainder of the Women’s Super League season and is also likely to miss this summer’s Olympics if the Matildas qualify. Since 2021, at least 87 players from eight of the world’s top women’s soccer leagues have torn ACLs, according to reporting from the Washington Post. Other WSL players to have ruptured their ACLs include Arsenal’s Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Vivianne Miedema, who all missed the World Cup. https://lnkd.in/eqy2ivi6
