The Facts
Female soccer players suffer a higher risk of injury because their uniform and equipment have largely been designed for male players, according to a UK study conducted by sports scientists.
Dr. Katrine Okholm Kryger, the report's author, has concluded that the difference in the shape and volume of women's feet means ill-fitting cleats can pinch the feet in unwanted ways. Kryger stated that: "women have a two to five times higher risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries," a type of knee injury.
The Spin
Narrative A
Women's soccer in the UK is going from strength to strength. Before the Euro 2022 competition, England last won a major competition fifty-six years ago, when women were still banned from playing competitively. But now everything has changed, and the power of seeing female sporting success is a triumph for gender equality and an example to younger generations. Tackling the lack of female equipment is just the latest step forward.
Narrative B
While progress in equality for female soccer players is doubtless a positive thing, there is still barely any investment or visibility in team-based female pursuits like lacrosse or netball. Rather than trying to imitate a "male" game, we should be encouraging boys, and the country at large, to enjoy traditionally female sports and diversify investment and attention to other pursuits to make female role models more visible.
