"A team wouldn’t be without a physio, so why miss mental health?" Exploring the psychological demands of increased exposure and available support for female footballers

Abstract

The increased profile of women’s football has been evidenced with increased fan presence and media exposure in England which presents unique challenges for players, and an opportunity to explore the impact on players and psychological support provisions available. 133 female footballers competing across the top four tiers in England volunteered to complete the online survey on Jisc. The survey comprised of 42 questions including open-ended and Likert scale questions, developed around four themes: a) general perspectives regarding the increased attention, b) performance and c) psychological implications of increased crowd presence, and d) player support and coping mechanisms. Open-ended responses were thematically analysed in line with Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step approach. Players referred to inspiring others, career fulfilment, professionalisation, and mental health benefits (e.g., pride) as positives associated with the progression. They also described negative consequences such as: increased pressure and anxiety, heightened scrutiny and abuse, balancing multiple demands with limited resources and inadequate infrastructure to support the rate of growth. 64.7% stated they would like more psychological support from their club. Key stakeholders should seek practicable solutions for enhancing the (often neglected) psychological support available.

Keywords: coping, crowd presence, stress, support, soccer.