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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Julia Ranney

How understanding the menstrual cycle is breaking new ground for women’s soccer

U.S. coach Emma Hayes oversees the team during training
Current USWNT coach Emma Hayes earned praise for tailoring training to menstrual cycles while at Chelsea. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/Reuters

In 1921, the English Football Association banned women’s soccer, declaring the game “unsuitable for females”. The sport has reclaimed its place on the world stage over the subsequent century-plus, but another outdated notion persists; that the players’ menstrual cycles are just an inconvenience rather than a key performance variable worth studying.

Now, a collection of researchers and medical professionals are lending their expertise to what could be the sport’s next big evolution.

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