Women’s Football Hub

#071 Nutrition what to know when you're injured with Phil Woodbridge

When footballers get injured, the first instinct is often to cut calories but is that the right move? In this episode, Carolyn Kent talks with sports nutritionist Phil Woodbridge about why nutrition matters during recovery and how athletes can avoid common mistakes.
Topics include:
Energy balance and why healing costs calories
Protein’s role in preventing muscle loss
Carbs and fats - how to adjust your plate when sidelined
Omega-3s and inflammation: when to supplement
Practical advice for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans
Phil also shares insights from his PhD research on amateur footballers and injury recovery. If you’re a player, coach, or parent, this episode is your go-to guide for smarter nutrition during injury.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
Hashtags:#SportsNutrition #FootballRecovery #WomenInSport #NutritionTips #InjuryRecovery #ProteinForAthletes #FootballPodcast

#070 Groin pain with Christos Pippas

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Christos Pippas, a physiotherapist and PhD researcher specialising in longstanding groin pain. Together, they unpack the complexities of groin injuries in football, including adductor, iliopsoas, pubic, and inguinal-related pain.
Christos shares insights from his research and clinical experience, offering practical advice on assessment, rehabilitation, and the importance of tailoring treatment to each athlete. The episode also highlights the lack of research in women’s football and the need for more inclusive studies.
Perfect for physiotherapists, coaches, and players, this episode bridges the gap between evidence and practice.
#GroinPain #FootballInjuries #SportsMedicine #Physiotherapy #CopenhagenExercise #InjuryPrevention #WomensFootball #ClinicalPractice #CarolynKent #ChristosPippas

#069 ACL Injury timing and its relationship to fatigue with Wyatt Hampstead

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent speaks with PhD researcher Wyatt Hampstead about his recent study analyzing 208 ACL injuries across professional women's football. They discuss why most ACL injuries happen in the first half, the biomechanical and tactical factors at play, and how fatigue both acute and chronic may be influencing injury risk.
Wyatt shares insights into the use of public data, the importance of warm-up protocols, and the gendered nature of injury environments. Whether you're a coach, player, or professional, this episode offers valuable takeaways for injury prevention and athlete care.
Topics Covered:
ACL injury timing and match intensity
Tactical implications and neuromuscular fatigue
Kaplan-Meier survival analysis explained
Gendered environments and training access
Practical advice for young players and medical teams
Follow us: www.womensfootballhub.com
Hashtags:#ACLInjury #WomensFootball #SportsScience #InjuryPrevention #Fatigue #FootballResearch #WyattHampstead #CarolynKent #FootballPodcast #SoccerInjury #NeuromuscularFatigue #KaplanMeier #PerformPlus #FIFA11Plus #FootballMedicine

#068 Concussion in the grassroots with Dr Stephanie Adams

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Dr. Stephanie Adams, neuropsychologist and founder of concussED, to discuss the evolution of concussion guidance in grassroots sport over the past decade.
From the tragic story of Benjamin Robinson to the development of the GRASP program and the 2024 UK-wide concussion protocols, this episode offers vital insights for coaches, parents, players, and educators. Dr. Adams shares her research journey, the challenges of changing behaviour through education, and the importance of early intervention and cultural change in sport.
Whether you're pitch-side or classroom-based, this episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in youth and grassroots sport.
Follow us:🔗 www.womensfootballhub.com📱 @concuss_edu📚 Scottish Sports Concussion Guidance available via SportScotland
#ConcussionEducation #GrassrootsFootball #WomenInSport #Neuropsychology #GRASPProtocol #SportsSafety #Podcast

#067 Player care with Tracey Smith

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Tracey Smith, founder of Player Care Support Services, about the essential role of off-pitch support in football. From helping players settle into new countries to supporting their families and mental wellbeing, Tracey shares her experience working across male and female academies and professional teams.
We discuss:
The importance of holistic player care
Cultural and language challenges for international players
Gender differences in academy support structures
How clubs can better invest in their players off the pitch
Real-life success stories and practical advice for clubs and players
Whether you're a coach, player, or football enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights into the human side of the game.
#WomensFootball #PlayerCare #FootballSupport #MentalHealth #FootballAcademy #FootballPodcast #CarolynKent #TraceySmith #PCSS #WomenInSport #FootballTransitions

#066 Trauma and somatic psychology with Lucy Burdin

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, Dr. Ian Cookson is joined by Lucy Burdin, a freelance sports psychologist with experience at Arsenal Women’s Academy and London City Lionesses. Together, they explore the psychological demands of goalkeeping, the impact of trauma and somatic psychology on athletes, and how attachment theory plays out in sporting environments.
Lucy shares her journey into trauma-informed practice, the importance of building trust with athletes, and how being present can transform performance and wellbeing. Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, this episode offers valuable insights into the human side of sport.
Connect with Lucy:
Instagram: @thesupportpsych
Website: thesupportpsychologist.com
LinkedIn: The Support Psychologist
Support the Hub: www.womensfootballhub.com
#SportsPsychology #TraumaInSport #SomaticPsychology #GoalkeeperMindset #Women'sFootball #MentalHealthInSport #LucyBurdin #FootballPodcast #AthleteWellbeing #PsychologyInFootball

#065 Goalkeeping Talent ID - With Harry Watson

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Harry Watson, Women's Goalkeeping Talent Coach at the FA, to shine a spotlight on the art and science of identifying and developing goalkeeping talent in the women's game.
They discuss:
The FA’s “Discover My Talent” initiative
Why early specialisation can be risky
The evolving standards of goalkeeping in the WSL
The impact of role models like Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton
The myth of shrinking goal sizes
How grassroots clubs can better support young goalkeepers
This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about women's football, youth development, or the goalkeeper position.
#WomensFootball #Goalkeeping #FA #TalentID #WSL #Lionesses #YouthFootball #FootballDevelopment #GoalkeeperUnion #CarolynKent #HarryWatson #DiscoverMyTalent #ChatGPT

#064 Acquired brain injury in football - The injury time report with Dr Paul Pearson

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Dr Paul Pearson, whose Injury Time Report investigates the impact of acquired brain injuries on footballers in Scotland. Drawing from interviews with nine players, including those diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, Dr Pearson discusses the physical, emotional, and financial toll of brain injuries, the gaps in support systems, and the urgent need for recognition and reform.
Whether you're a player, coach, parent, or fan, this episode offers vital insights into how football can better protect its athletes—on and off the pitch.
📌 Learn more: www.injury-time.com📧 Contact Dr Pearson: p.pearson.research@gmail.com🛍️ Support the Women's Football Hub: www.womensfootballhub.com
#FootballPodcast #BrainInjuryAwareness #PlayerVoice #ConcussionInSport #FootballSafety #WomensFootball #InjuryTimeReport #NeurodegenerativeDisease #PodcastAI

#063 Safeguarding in the WSL with Lauren McMurchie from Kyniska Advocacy

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Lauren McMurchie, safeguarding lead at Kyniska Advocacy and former professional footballer, about the pioneering safeguarding initiative now being delivered in partnership with the Barclays Women's Super League.
Lauren discusses the importance of proactive safeguarding, red flag behaviors, the role of leadership, and the unique challenges faced by female athletes in professional environments. This episode highlights how safeguarding is evolving in women's football and why creating healthy environments is essential for performance and wellbeing.
Whether you're a player, coach, practitioner, or fan this conversation offers valuable insights into the future of safeguarding in professional women's football.
Follow us on social media and visit our merch store at womensfootballhub.com
Hashtags:#SafeguardingInSport #WSL #LaurenMcMurchie #KyniskaAdvocacy #WomensFootball #SafeSport #AthleteWelfare #FootballPodcast #WomenInSport #PlayerCare

#062 Return to performance pathway with Andrew Mitchell

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub Podcast, Carolyn Kent sits down with Andrew Mitchell, an experienced sports physiotherapist who has worked with RB Leipzig and co-authored the 2024 paper A Return to Performance Pathway for Professional Soccer: A Criteria-Based Approach.
Together, they explore the full rehabilitation journey: from the first 24–48 hours post-injury through gym-based phases, running criteria, and high-speed return-to-play drills. Andrew also explains why return to performance is not the same as return to play, and how criteria-based progression can take the guesswork out of rehab.
Listeners will learn about:
Diagnosis and planning in the acute phase
Supplementary criteria for safe progression
Gym phase 1 (foundations) and gym phase 2 (reconditioning)
Return-to-running benchmarks
How to adapt elite protocols to resource-limited settings
The critical role of trust, communication, and psychological readiness
This episode is essential listening for physiotherapists, coaches, and practitioners supporting injured players on their journey back to performance.
Follow us on social media for more resources:Instagram & TikTok: @womens.football.hub | X: @_WFootballHub
#WomensFootball #InjuryPrevention #ReturnToPerformance #SportsPhysio