Women’s football is experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity worldwide, but the question of how to develop it remains as important as it is complex. 

The answer is not straightforward—it’s like solving a giant puzzle with many interdependent pieces.

I assume, for me, it’s like walking in a minefield, full of doubts and almost none certainty.

Why Is Developing Women’s Football So Complex?

To start, because there are significant differences to the Male version of Football, from a biological stand to the business side.

Compared to men’s football, women’s football faces unique challenges—biologically, culturally, and commercially. 

With less historical data, the sport lacks well-established frameworks for:

– Training Methodologies: Tailored to women’s physiological needs, ability to understand the space, appropriate space and numerical relationships per age group, etc.

– Physical Development: Appropriate loads by age group, once physical stages of maturity are naturally different from men.

– Injury Prevention: Addressing unique risks aligned with women natural body formation, becoming more and more evident with the increase in injuries, like ACL injuries.

– Tactical Principles: Contextualized for different developmental stages, as all the before mentioned.

– Cognitive Training: By developing differently, it will create a direct impact and differences in decision-making and spatial awareness.

It’s not enough to simply promote the Sport; promotion is just one piece of the puzzle. 

What we need is a comprehensive approach that addresses these challenges holistically.

Virtually everything is different.

Lessons from the USA and Europe

The USA and Europe have been at the forefront of women’s football development over the past 20 years. 

Here’s what we can learn from them:

USA

1. Youth Development: Grassroots programs through schools and clubs have created a broad talent base. Title IX legislation has ensured equal funding for women’s sports in schools, paving the way for accessible pathways to professional football.

2. League Structure: The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) provides consistent opportunities for athletes to grow and compete, with clear connections to youth systems.

Europe

1. Professionalization: Clubs like Lyon and Barcelona have invested heavily in women’s football, achieving success through dedicated resources and elite training environments.

2. Visibility: UEFA’s Women’s Champions League has increased global interest, creating role models and inspiring participation.

3. Organizational Strategy: Some clubs separate the branding for men’s and women’s teams, while others integrate them to share resources and expertise. Both approaches have shown success depending on context.

Chelsea FC, for instance, created a buzz in the industry by separating the brands (Male Teams from Female Teams).

How the MENA Region Can Grow

To foster the growth of women’s football in the MENA region, we must address foundational gaps while respecting cultural nuances:

1. Grassroots Engagement:

   – Introduce football programs for girls in schools, supported by government and private sponsorships.

   – Launch culturally sensitive campaigns to normalize girls’ participation in sports.

2. Infrastructure Development:  

   – Build dedicated facilities for women’s teams, ensuring safe and accessible environments.

   – Establish leagues with age-group divisions to create competitive pathways.

3. Education and Research:  

   – Train coaches, physiotherapists, and sports scientists to specialize in women’s football.

   – Collaborate with global institutions to conduct research on women-specific methodologies.

4. Media and Marketing:  

   – Highlight local success stories and role models to inspire participation.

   – Use social media to engage younger audiences and showcase matches.

5. Global Partnerships: 

   – Collaborate with leagues like the NWSL or UEFA Women’s Champions League for knowledge exchange.

   – Create scholarships for young women to study and play abroad, bringing back expertise to uplift local football.

But, again, to promote is a piece, not the puzzle.

Simply promoting women’s football is not enough. 

Additionally, big institutions have approached the theme in the wrong way, in my opinion, by forcing Clubs to implement female teams, pushing (as Arianna Criscione said when at the panel speaking about the history and future of Women Football at World Football Summit Asia, Riyadh, “maybe not for the best reasons”) to create teams in a matter of months if they wanted to participate in X competition or have the Y financial support.

This can lead to unsustainable efforts.

Is this the right approach?
Not sure, naturally!
But I want to understand how can we all help things to move forward and support those that want to pursue their dreams.

To truly develop women’s football, we must understand and address the broader puzzle:

– Grassroots initiatives.

– Investment in education, infrastructure, and research.

– Collaboration across regions for shared growth.

Where do we take our knowledge from about the right Principles approach for Training and holistic physical development?

What Principles are, therefore, crucial?

Do we have qualified trainers and professionals for that?

If yes, how many? Are they ready?
If not, do we have the studies and research to support the add knowledge?
Or even, are we trying to create more studies on these?

A Call to Action is needed!

We need to understand the puzzle, not loose pieces.

Join the conversation: How can we all contribute to the growth of women’s football? 

Let me know your thoughts!