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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
The NWSL Players Association and the NWSL announced their participation in Project ACL on Wednesday. This initiative aims to decrease the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s professional soccer.
This player-focused research will commence in June and has a duration of three years, after which the collected data will be analyzed to identify ways to mitigate ACL injuries.
Research indicates that women are twice as likely to suffer ACL injuries compared to men, and approximately two-thirds of these injuries in women’s soccer occur without contact from another player.
The NWSLPA’s deputy executive director, Tori Huster, stated, “We are proud to join Project ACL, which unites players, leagues, and researchers to deepen our understanding of ACL injuries. This understanding necessitates examining the conditions that players train and compete in daily, beyond the individual perspective. Project ACL is an opportunity to generate player-centered evidence that can inspire significant changes within women’s professional soccer.”
The study will focus on metrics such as player workload and travel, and how these elements relate to injury occurrences. Organizers confirmed that the data will be anonymized and kept confidential throughout the study.
According to the organizers, only 8% of sports research focuses on women, with much of that research centered on amateur athletes.
Originally, Project ACL launched in England in collaboration with the Women’s Super League. This is the inaugural study of its kind spanning multiple professional leagues, according to its organizers.
The NWSL and NWSLPA are collaborating with Nike, Leeds Beckett University, and global players’ union FIFPRO, which provides overall guidance and leadership for the study, as stated in a press release.
Dr. Alex Culvin, FIFPRO’s director of women’s football, expressed excitement about integrating the NWSL and NWSLPA into Project ACL, noting that it now includes two of the most prominent women’s soccer leagues. “We believe that a player-centered approach and collaboration with essential stakeholders are vital for achieving meaningful change in the soccer ecosystem, benefiting players, competition organizers, and stakeholders globally through Project ACL’s findings and outcomes,” he added.