Cycle tracking can be really useful.
But there is an important difference between a player understanding her own menstrual cycle and a coach collecting the menstrual data of an entire team.
Those are not the same thing.
Why might a player track?
Tracking can help a player understand what is normal for her.
It can help her notice symptoms, prepare for her period, recognise changes and give better information to a healthcare professional if something does not seem right.
We support that.
Does the coach need to see it?
Not necessarily.
A coach normally needs to know: How are you feeling today?
They rarely need to know: What cycle day are you on?
There may be performance environments where qualified sports science and medical teams use menstrual information as part of much broader athlete monitoring.
Grassroots and youth football is different.
Do not collect personal health information simply because technology makes it possible.
Start with purpose
Before asking players to provide menstrual information, ask:
- Why are we collecting it?
- Who will see it?
- How will it be stored?
- What are we actually going to do with it?
- Can the player choose not to participate?
- Does the player understand what is being collected?
For children and teenagers, there are also safeguarding and data protection considerations.
If you cannot answer those questions clearly, do not collect the information.
Players should have a choice
A player should never feel that sharing her period information is the price she has to pay to be taken seriously as an athlete.
If she wants to share information because it helps her explain symptoms, great.
If she prefers to keep it private, that is also fine.
Good coaching can still happen.
Do not turn tracking into selection
We would strongly advise against statements such as: She is in her luteal phase so we should not start her. Or: She is ovulating, so she is a higher injury risk.
That is not an appropriate use of the evidence we currently have.
A player telling you that she gets really bad symptoms at this point and is struggling today is useful individual information.
An app telling a coach that Day 21 equals reduced performance is not the same thing.
A sensible grassroots model
Teach players about the menstrual cycle.
Show them how tracking can help.
Let them track privately if they want to.
Make it easy to ask for support.
Check in on wellbeing.
And create an environment where saying I have got bad cramps today is treated as normally as saying my hamstring feels tight.
That is progress.
The LTM takeaway
Cycle tracking should give players more ownership of their bodies, not give other people more control over them.
Sources and further reading
- England Football Female Health Hub
- UEFA Consensus Statement on Menstrual Cycle Tracking in Women's Football
- Athlete centred menstrual health monitoring guidance
- Safeguarding and data protection principles for youth sport
This article provides general educational information and does not replace individual medical advice or club safeguarding procedures.
Explore related support
Related player support