Turning Sports Science Data into Better Decisions in Women's Soccer

Submaximal Fitness Testing in Women's Soccer

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by sport scientist, strength and conditioning coach, and researcher Tzlil Shushan to discuss submaximal fitness testing and how practitioners can better monitor training response in women's football. Tzlil shares insights from his research exploring how simple, repeatable fitness assessments can provide meaningful information about an athlete's cardiovascular fitness throughout the season without the need for exhaustive maximal testing. The conversation explores how submaximal fitness testing can fit into the realities of a team sport environment, how practitioners can interpret heart rate responses, and why monitoring athlete response may be just as important as monitoring external training load. Topics include: • The difference between maximal and submaximal fitness testing • Why team sport environments need practical monitoring solutions • Continuous versus intermittent submaximal testing protocols • How to select an appropriate testing intensity • Exercise heart rate and heart rate recovery as monitoring tools • The impact of environmental factors on heart rate responses • What current research suggests about menstrual cycle effects on submaximal testing outcomes • Using football-specific passing drills as monitoring tools • The relationship between internal and external training load • Practical recommendations for implementing submaximal fitness testing in women's football Tzlil also discusses ongoing research in female football players and shares how practitioners can begin implementing simple monitoring systems that provide meaningful insights without adding unnecessary complexity. If you work in sport science, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, or performance, this episode provides a practical framework for improving athlete monitoring and understanding training response.

My Next Chapter in Women's Soccer

In this solo episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole shares a personal and professional update on her recent transition into the role of Director of Medical and Performance for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL. Nicole discusses the recruitment process, why she decided to return to a team environment, and the factors that ultimately led her and her husband to relocate from Phoenix to Orlando. She also reflects on the challenges of moving across the country, balancing professional opportunities with personal priorities, and the realities that often exist behind major career decisions. The conversation also explores how the NWSL has evolved since Nicole's previous experience with OL Reign, including increased resources, larger support staffs, improved facilities, and the growing need for strong leadership and communication systems within health and performance departments. Topics include: • The process of accepting a leadership role in the NWSL • Why fit matters more than title when evaluating opportunities • The realities of relocating for professional sport • Returning to a collaborative team environment • The role of a Director of Medical and Performance • Building systems and supporting staff development • How the NWSL has changed over the past several years • Communication and leadership within larger performance departments • The growth and professionalization of women's football • What's next for Femme Football Collective Nicole also provides an overview of the upcoming Soccer Performance Support Summit, including the conference theme, featured speakers, and the importance of creating opportunities for education and collaboration across men's and women's soccer. Whether you work in sport, are considering a career transition, or are passionate about the future of women's football, this episode offers an inside look at leadership, growth, and the next chapter of Nicole's journey.

Rethinking ACL Injury Prevention in Elite Women's Soccer

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Dan Kadlec, researcher and lecturer at Edith Cowan University, to challenge one of the most widely accepted approaches to injury prevention in sport. Dan recently co-authored the paper Warm Up is Not a Workout, which critiques the reliance on structured warm-up programs for reducing ACL injury risk. In this conversation, he explains why these programs may have a role for young or untrained athletes but fall short in preparing elite athletes for the demands of sport. This episode explores the gap between research, messaging, and real-world physical preparation, and why long-term strength and conditioning remains the foundation of athlete health and performance. Topics include: • Why warm-up programs have a ceiling effect for injury prevention • The difference between preparation and adaptation • Why something is better than nothing is not enough • The importance of progressive overload and long-term training • Strength as the foundation of resilience and durability • Why the basics are often overlooked in female athletes • The impact of early athletic development and training history • Misconceptions around training female athletes • Why chasing new trends can distract from effective methods • What a sustainable physical preparation model should look like Dan also discusses how limited access to quality training environments in the women's game contributes to injury risk and why expectations for female athletes need to shift. This episode is essential listening for practitioners in sports medicine, strength and conditioning, sport science, and coaching who want to rethink how they approach injury prevention and physical preparation. JOIN THE COLLECTIVE: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femmefootballcollective [https://www.tiktok.com/@femmefootballcollective] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femme-football-collective [https://www.linkedin.com/company/femme-football-collective] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femmefc [https://www.instagram.com/femmefc] Website: https://femmefc.com [https://femmefc.com] Continue your learning at the Soccer Performance Support Summit this June in New Jersey! Learn from and connect with practitioners across the NWSL, MLS, and NCAA! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator]

The Current State of Research in Women's Soccer

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Kat Okholm Kryger, a researcher with UEFA, to break down the current state of research in women's football and what still needs to be done to truly support the women's game with high-quality evidence. Kat shares insights from her work connecting researchers and practitioners, highlighting how research questions should come directly from the needs of the football environment and be translated into practical tools that can be applied on the pitch. This conversation explores where the evidence base is strong, where it is lacking, and how common narratives in women's football are not always supported by the research. Topics include: • The current landscape of research in women's football and key gaps • Why injury research dominates and what is still missing • Why we cannot simply apply research from the men's game • The difference between lack of evidence and evidence that does not support a claim • Menstrual cycle research and common misconceptions in practice • The reality of ACL injury trends and the "epidemic" narrative • Why prevention strategies exist but are not consistently implemented • The importance of translating research into practical application • Barriers between researchers and practitioners • Future priorities for research including global representation and better quality studies Kat also discusses the role of technology in women's football, including equipment design, football boots, and how poor fit can impact both performance and injury risk. This episode is essential listening for practitioners in sports medicine, sport science, strength and conditioning, and coaching who want to better understand how to apply evidence-based practice in women's football. 👉 Subscribe to Femme FC for more conversations connecting research, performance, and women's football. ✨ Femme Football Collective: Elevating the Game, Empowering the Experts. JOIN THE COLLECTIVE: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femmefootballcollective [https://www.tiktok.com/@femmefootballcollective] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femme-football-collective [https://www.linkedin.com/company/femme-football-collective] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femmefc [https://www.instagram.com/femmefc] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FemmeFootballCollective [https://www.youtube.com/@FemmeFootballCollective] Website: https://femmefc.com [https://femmefc.com] Continue your learning at the Soccer Performance Support Summit this June in New Jersey! Learn from and connect with practitioners across the NWSL, MLS, and NCAA! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator]

Transitioning from Practitioner to Leader in Elite Women's Soccer

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Rachel Woodland, Head of Client Engagement at The Nxt Level Group and Assistant Coach for Fulham Women, to explore leadership in elite sport and what it takes to move from practitioner to effective leader. Rachel brings experience working across sport, business, and leadership development, and shares insights into what separates strong leaders from technical experts. This conversation challenges the common assumption that the best practitioners automatically make the best leaders and instead focuses on the skills, behaviors, and experiences required to lead effectively. The discussion also explores how leadership can be developed over time, the importance of self-awareness and reflective practice, and how organizations can better identify and support future leaders. Topics include: • Key traits of effective leaders including adaptability, communication, and authenticity • Why being a technical expert does not automatically translate to leadership success • Common challenges when transitioning from practitioner to leadership roles • The importance of time management, delegation, and communication as a leader • How to develop leadership skills through experience, reflection, and mentorship • Emotional regulation and its role in decision making and trust • How to build self-awareness and use tools like reflective practice and feedback • Why varied experiences are critical for leadership development • What effective leadership looks like in high-performance environments • How organizations should evaluate and hire leaders in elite sport This episode is essential listening for practitioners in sports medicine, strength and conditioning, sport science, and coaching who are looking to step into leadership roles or improve their impact within a team. 👉 Subscribe to Femme FC for more conversations connecting research, performance, and women's football. ✨ Femme Football Collective: Elevating the Game, Empowering the Experts. JOIN THE COLLECTIVE: Website: https://femmefc.com/ [https://femmefc.com/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femmefootballcollective [https://www.tiktok.com/@femmefootballcollective] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femme-football-collective [https://www.linkedin.com/company/femme-football-collective] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femmefc [https://www.instagram.com/femmefc] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FemmeFootballCollective [https://www.youtube.com/@FemmeFootballCollective] Continue your learning at the Soccer Performance Support Summit this June in New Jersey! Learn from and connect with practitioners across the NWSL, MLS, and NCAA! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator]