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Since it began working with the English Football Association (The FA) in 2011, Brunel University London has built up considerable expertise in mixed-gender sport. In this Science Explained session, Drs Hills and Gibson assess what the handful of existing studies in this area mean for clubs and coaches, and suggest where future researchers could add detail to a very patchy research picture. Their presentation is followed by a Q&A, hosted by FIFA’s Dr Paul Bradley.
Outline the current state of research on mixed-gender football. Consider what existing studies tell us about the technical, physiological and social effects of playing in mixed-gender teams. Highlight the need for further research in this area.
Current research into the impact of mixed-gender sport in general, and football in particular, is extremely limited. Nevertheless, there is evidence to suggest that mixed-gender football can be beneficial to young players’ social development, as well as boosting their technical skills on the pitch. It can also represent a path into the elite game, especially for young girls from areas where there is no local girls’ team for them to play in.
There is a school of thought that suggests it could be advantageous for youngsters to play mixed-gender football for as long as they can. However, there is an urgent need for more research into all aspects of mixed-gender football, from the impact on players’ technical skills to social issues such as the way players and their parents respond to the idea of mixed-gender teams. If it is established that mixed-gender football can boost youngsters’ technical ability, this could prompt a separate discussion about how to incorporate it into talent development pathways.
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Part 1: Brunel University London’s work with the FA on mixed-gender football
In the first part of the presentation, Dr Laura Hills summarises Brunel University London’s research into mixed-gender football – research so persuasive that it prompted The FA to raise the age limit for mixed teams from U-11 to U-18. Their study, which was conducted over a period of seven years, featured numerous interviews with players, parents and coaches, as well as injury risk assessments. Its main findings suggested that younger girls were at no greater risk of injury than boys in their age group, and that playing mixed-gender football helped to build girls’ confidence and hone their technical skills.
Part 2: The physiological and social effects of mixed-gender sport
The physiological effects of mixed-gender football have not been widely studied and there is an urgent need for more research. However, there is enough evidence from football and other sports to at least hint at a few general trends. Perhaps the most important of these is that girls and women who play in mixed-gender teams seem to experience higher physiological loads than they would playing in women-only sides, perhaps because they look to match the intensity of their male team-mates. Playing mixed-gender sport can also have positive social effects on both boys and girls, particularly in strengthening friendships and shaping the way boys go on to relate to women as adults.
Part 3: The example of Katie Robson and the need for further research
England international Katie Robson is a prime example of how mixed-gender football can benefit youngsters. She grew up in Cornwall, where there were few girls’ teams, and played mixed football in Plymouth Argyle’s Centre of Excellence. This turned out to be the beginning of her path to the top of the women’s game. However, more research is urgently needed into how mixed-gender football contributes to the success of national sides. There is also a pressing need to improve our understanding of some of the social aspects of mixed-gender sport, including parents’ attitudes to mixed teams and the continued prevalence of verbal abuse against players in those sides.
Q&A
00:48
What are the long-term social advantages of mixed-gender football?
02:22
What might some of the physical, technical and tactical advantages of mixed-gender football be?
04:32
What are the potential disadvantages of mixed-gender football?
06:25
Are the benefits we’ve highlighted the same for boys and girls, or is mixed-gender football particularly beneficial for girls?
07:57
What is the value of combining qualitative sociological research with quantitative physiological research?
11:09
Does mixed-gender football contribute to national and international success in women’s football?
12:52
What is the best way to embed mixed-gender football into the player pathway?
15:13
What are the main barriers and concerns football associations raise about delivering mixed-gender football, and how can we overcome those concerns?
17:18
What are the key messages practitioners should take from the science in this area?
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