The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has recently announced a series of new initiatives aimed at ensuring players receive the support they need throughout their careers. These include expanding access to fertility care, as well as introducing training camps for out-of-contract players in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2), helping them maintain peak fitness and performance levels while they search for their next club.
Professional Footballers’ Association Partnership with Care Fertility
In May of this year, UK’s largest fertility provider, Care Fertility, partnered with the PFA to deliver education and benefits regarding fertility to its players. This collaboration comes in response to a growing awareness around fertility and parenthood within the world of elite sport. Having this kind of support is particularly beneficial for female athletes whose careers in sport can present challenges regarding starting a family.
A collaboration of this nature is particularly valuable in recent times with players sharing their struggles with fertility and choosing to have a child. In this instance, choice is the key word. The partnership between Care Fertility and the PFA gives players the opportunity to decide whether starting a family during their playing career is right for them. Not so long ago, many players simply didn’t have that choice, as the education, support and resources needed to make an informed decision were not available.
The programme has been designed to combine medical expertise with care that is confidential to improve health and wellbeing support. Some of the programme’s aims include providing access to education through webinars, in-person events and a dedicated digital hub for PFA members. Making the education aspect of the programme available through an online medium as well as in person makes it more accessible for players by removing any barriers that may stop them from looking further into this topic. Thus, allowing them the opportunity to make more informed decisions. Information in this format is available for current and former players, equally emphasising its mission of being there for all those in elite sports.
Describing the partnership as a landmark moment for player welfare, Care Fertility’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Victoria Sephton, said:
“Professional sport is so physically and emotionally demanding on players, and fertility is simultaneously one of the most personal and least discussed parts of that journey. This partnership with the PFA is a UK-first opportunity to bring clinically-led, confidential support directly into the game.”
The PFA Pre-Season Training Camp
Alongside fertility care, the PFA has announced the expansion of their training camp for out of contract players. The programme, originally launched as a 10-week initiative, has been extended to 12 weeks and, for the first time since its introduction in the 2022/23 season, will now include dedicated camps for WSL and WSL2 players.
The PFA pre-season has helped a vast amount of players land new deals with clubs. This is because players are able to train daily from a residential base, take part in friendly fixtures, and access both physical and mental wellbeing support throughout the programme. For players in this period of their career when they can feel as though they are in limbo, a programme such as this is largely beneficial as they are still building on their skills in a professional environment rather than being out of action completely.
For the 2025/26 season, a dedicated camp for out of contract WSL and WSL2 players will begin around mid-July. This follows the expansion of the PFA’s membership across the top two tiers of women’s football.
Previous pre-season training camps have had a lot of success, with players expressing their gratitude for how much the initiative helped them. Former Sunderland and AC Milan player Fabio Borini said:
“What the PFA has done with this initiative is very helpful, it gives players the opportunity to stay fit the best way possible, with the facilities they provided.”
Positive feedback like this, shows the impact that it can have for players in this situation.
Now that the project includes the top two divisions in English women’s football, it is exciting to see the positive outcome of the programme and how it may help the women’s game progress.
