Optimising The Health and Performance of Female Soccer Players: A Co-Created Health Literacy Framework for Players and Staff

Only ~20% of soccer-related research is published on females (Kirkendall and Krustrup, 2021), with less still on female adapted soccer (e.g., blind soccer, deaf soccer). Additionally, this research is typically conducted within compartmentalised disciplines (e.g., biomechanics, or physiology or sociology) without inclusion of the player/athlete voice. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the health and performance needs and priorities of professional female soccer players are lacking. Resulting in a paucity of evidence (e.g., related to training, recovery, equipment, injuries and illness, menstrual health, etc.,) for practitioners (e.g., medical and allied health staff, coaches, etc.,) and relevant stakeholders (e.g., federations/governing bodies, apparel/equipment/technology manufacturers) to translate into practice/policy to optimise and protect female soccer player health and performance respectively.

Adopting a mixed methods and co-created (players, staff and other stakeholders) approach this project will develop an inclusive and comprehensive female soccer player specific health literacy framework for players and staff (across the globe). To complete this effectively, the successful candidate will have recent (ideally current) experience of working and/or playing in female soccer (ideally at a professional level) and thus have a network of practice in this space to lean upon.

Loughborough University has an applied research culture. In REF 2021, 94% of the work submitted was judged to be top-rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

We are a community based on mutual support and collaboration. Through our Doctoral College there are continual opportunities for building important research skills and networks among your peers and research academics.

Entry requirements:

Essential

• Applicants should have at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent qualifications and experience) or a Master’s degree (distinction) in a relevant area (e.g., Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Coaching, Strength and Conditioning etc.,).
• Experience working/playing within female soccer (ideally at the professional level).

Desirable

• 1st class undergraduate degree and a distinction at masters level in a relevant area (e.g., Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Coaching, Strength and Conditioning, etc.,).
• Experience publishing peer-reviewed data, particularly related to female soccer.
• A network (ideally international) within female soccer (ideally including adapted soccer) and relevant associated stakeholders (e.g., governing bodies, industry).
• Competency in quantitative (e.g., player load, GPS) and qualitative (e.g., questionnaires, interviews) data collection, ideally within female soccer.
• Ability to confidently perform modern statistical analyses (e.g., coding methods, thematic analyses) and data visualisation using relevant software (e.g., R).
• Football coaching qualification.
• Fluency in a Union of European Football Association language (e.g., French, German).

English language requirements:

• Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

How to apply:

All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Please quote the advertised reference number: SSEHS/BC25 in your application.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.

Your application must include the following: cover letter (300 words maximum), personal statement (500 words maximum), research proposal based on the project title and details (500 words maximum – with an additional one page detailed experimental schematic/overview for a three year PhD project in this space), responses to essential and desirable criteria (in a systematic and concise point-by-point manner, address each entry criterion – for each criterion a maximum of 150 words may be used), and full academic CV. The cover letter, personal statement, research proposal and experimental schematic, responses to criteria, and CV should be merged as a PDF, in this order, using Times New Roman 11 font and single line spacing. ** Applications which do not conform to these guidelines will not be shortlisted **.