Project ACL is a three-year development that is designed to investigate the rising number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries within women’s football. The Player’s Union -FIFPRO- have collaborated with the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), Leeds Beckett University and Nike, in order to benefit from the various expertise in research, each one of those entities possess. These partners will also collaborate with Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs and players to understand their current working environment and what can be done to improve that.
The aim of Project ACL is to develop realistic solutions to decrease injury rates. Once the study is complete, FIFPRO will share their findings with the likes of FIFA and other governing bodies in the hopes of implementing effective strategies that will make a noticeable improvement across the whole sport.
Nike’s Contribution:
Dr Katrine Okholm Kryger, a senior lecturer in sports medicine who specialises in women’s football, suggested that the main areas of concern could be related to the anatomy and biomechanics of the female athletes, such as having wider hips and an increase in the legs angle into the knee.
In 2022, Dr. Okholm Kryger hosted a Q&A session with the Royal College of Podiatry, delving into all aspects of football boot design. A key takeaway was the importance of a holistic approach in addressing design challenges, with essential criteria including fit, traction, and comfort. This is where Project ACL collaborated with industry leader Nike, calling upon their expertise in football boot innovation. In June 2023, Nike released the Phantom Luna, specially crafted to enhance traction, fit, and overall comfort for female footballers—an impactful contribution to the project’s mission.
US Women’s National Team defender, Crystal Dunn expressed that:
“Luna is one of the most comfortable boots I’ve ever put on. It’s really important as an athlete who’s constantly moving to feel comfortable and secure”.
Dunn’s positive feedback highlights how these investments and changes can truly empower female footballers, instilling confidence that Nike is prioritising their unique needs—a significant step in the right direction. However, since the boot is also available to male players, one could argue that this broad availability may overlook the extensive research focused on tailoring the fit specifically for female athletes to help reduce injury risks.
What Project ACL means to the players:
The most important aspect of Project ACL is the players. All of the time spent studying the root cause of this issue is for the benefit of the athletes who have experienced this kind of injury and those it may happen to in the future.
Speaking to FIFPRO, Lioness and Arsenal Forward, Beth Mead said that:
“The people who understand ACL injuries are the players who have gone through it”.
Another footballer who welcomes these changes is former England International, Ellen White. When asked by FIFPRO why Project ACL is so significant, White responded by saying:
“This project is so important because it hasn’t been done before. We’ve been crying out for so long…having FIFPRO, Leeds Beckett University and Nike combining forces is a big statement.”
White’s emphasis on the prolonged wait for action underscores the players’ sense of being overlooked, with their frustrations treated as an afterthought. However, the alliance formed by these partners sets a positive tone, transforming frustrations into actionable solutions.
Project ACL player summit:
In September 2024, the PFA hosted a summit in London which was attended by members, stakeholders and media outlets along with WSL footballers. Lucy Bronze, Lucy Staniforth and Rachel Corsie took part in a panel to discuss what they would like to achieve during the three-year project. One objective that stood out was to equip players with the best support they can surrounding their injury. This is important as it can be quite an isolating injury due to the rehabilitation that takes place away from the players’ teammates.
FIFPRO recognise that there are multidisciplinary teams that are hugely under-resourced and want to offer their support as they play a key role in this, with people from various disciplines working together to reach a target. Project ACL does not fall short when it comes to the expertise of professionals, so the next step is identifying good practice and using that knowledge to drive standards forward.
Given FIFPRO’s status as a global organisation, limiting their research to the WSL falls short of their full potential. Their next objective, therefore, is to expand the project to benefit players worldwide.
Project ACL is a significant advancement for women’s football research, focusing on reducing injury risks and addressing the unique needs of female players. This initiative not only prioritises women’s health in the sport but also signals a broader commitment to supporting female athletes through dedicated, science-based innovation.
Photo – https://www.thepfa.com/news/2024/4/30/project-launched-to-reduce-acl-injuries-in-womens-football
