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Menstrual Cycle and Training in Women's Football: What Coaches Need to Know

In most clubs, the topic never comes up. Not out of rejection, but out of uncertainty: male coaches do not want to get things wrong, so they prefer to stay silent. As a result, female players are left alone with something that impacts their performance and injury risk. What the research shows, what it does not, and how you can handle it without being a medical professional.

📖 Reading time: 4 minutes ⚽ Coach OS Knowledge Base
Table of Contents
01 What happens in the body 02 What the research shows — and what it doesn't 03 The point that really concerns coaches 04 What you can do in practice 05 What you should avoid 06 How to address the topic 07 5 takeaways for coaches 08 FAQ

What happens in the body

The menstrual cycle runs in phases where hormone levels change significantly. For sport, two main effects are relevant.

The first affects performance. A study with female footballers showed poorer scores in the Yo-Yo endurance test during the second half of the cycle compared to other times. On top of that come highly individual symptoms — pain, fatigue, sleep quality.

The second affects connective tissue. Higher oestrogen levels reduce the stiffness of tendons and ligaments because collagen synthesis decreases. This is precisely where the theory comes from that injury risk increases around ovulation.

What the research shows — and what it doesn't

Here, honesty is more important than a catchy rule.

There is reliable evidence that cycle phases are linked to performance and injury risk. A study on international players found that around twenty per cent of all injuries occurred when a player was "overdue" — meaning bleeding started later than in a regular cycle.

What does not exist is a proven model for cycle-based training that can simply be imposed on a squad. The research is inconsistent, individual variations are substantial, and many studies rely on small sample sizes.

For you as a coach, this means: the topic is real enough to take seriously, yet too uncertain to base a rigid training plan on it.

The point that really concerns coaches

If you take away just one thing from this article, let it be this: the increased injury risk is the most practically relevant finding.

Football has one of the highest ACL injury risks of any sport, and female players are affected significantly more often than male players. When hormonal phases further influence this risk, it is no marginal issue.

However, the practical consequence is not to pull players out of training during certain phases. It is to make sure the fundamentals are rock-solid: jumping and landing mechanics, core stability, Nordic hamstring curls, and a thorough warm-up programme. These components work regardless of the cycle and are the only things you can directly influence as a coach. You will find an overview in our injury prevention guide, and specifically for knees in our article on preventing knee injuries.

What you can do in practice

  • Adjust workload when a player raises it. Don't follow a calendar; respond to feedback.
  • Firmly anchor injury prevention work. Every session, not just when there is time left over.
  • Create a feedback system that works without explanations. Many clubs use a simple well-being scale for this — if someone feels unwell, they don't have to explain why.
  • Don't comment on absences. Anyone missing a session due to symptoms shouldn't have to justify it.
  • Refer to specialists. Severe symptoms or missed periods need a medical assessment, not a coach's evaluation.

What you should avoid

  • Don't collect cycle data. This is private health data. In grassroots football, a coach has no business collecting it.
  • Don't draw conclusions about performance. A poor session is not a diagnosis.
  • Don't bring it up in front of the team. Neither jokingly nor out of concern.
  • Don't give advice on contraception or medication. That is exclusively a doctor's domain.

How to address the topic

The most common mistake is turning it into a big conversation. A better approach is a single, matter-of-fact announcement at the start of the season that opens the door without drawing unwanted attention:

"If you're ever not feeling well — for whatever reason — just let me know briefly and we'll adjust the workload. You don't have to explain anything."

That is all it takes. The sentence accomplishes two things: it specifies no cause and demands no justification.

If you are unsure as a male coach, the best solution is structural anyway: having a woman on the coaching or support staff whom players can turn to. For what else to keep in mind in girls' football, see our article on coaching girls' football.

As of: August 2026. This article does not replace medical advice.

5 takeaways for coaches

  • Take it seriously without exaggerating it. The evidence is real, but a ready-made training model does not exist.
  • The most important lever is prevention. Landing mechanics, core, Nordic hamstring curls — regardless of the cycle.
  • Create a feedback channel without pressure to explain. That is the core of it.
  • Don't collect health data. Not your role, not your responsibility.
  • One announcement per season is enough. After that, act rather than talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the menstrual cycle affect athletic performance?+
There is evidence to suggest this, such as lower endurance scores in the second half of the cycle. However, individual variations are large, and reliable generalisations cannot be made.
Is the injury risk higher in certain phases?+
The data suggests so, partly because higher oestrogen levels reduce the stiffness of tendons and ligaments. For coaches, the sensible consequence is consistent prevention work, not barring players from training.
Should I plan training around the menstrual cycle?+
In grassroots football, no. There is no proven model, and the differences between players are too significant. Respond to feedback rather than a calendar.
How should I address the topic as a male coach?+
Once, matter-of-factly, without naming causes: anyone feeling unwell lets you know and doesn't need to explain. Having a female contact person on staff also helps.
Am I allowed to track cycle data?+
No. This is sensitive health data with special legal protection. In club football, it has no place in the hands of the coach.

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