An educational platform to increase knowledge about women in sports
Lára Hafliðadóttir, a doctoral student in Sports Science at Reykjavík University, and the department's dean, Hafrún Kristjánsdóttir, have developed and launched an educational platform to increase knowledge about women in sports. The platform, titled Women in Sports, provides research-based educational material designed especially for young female athletes.
Lára completed her MSc in Sport Science and Coaching from RU in 2021 and currently works in the science department at the Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ), where she is responsible for teaching and educational programmes for coaches, while also working as a football and running coach.
The website offers educational resources on women and sports, aiming to increase knowledge, encourage open discussion, and address issues specific to female athletes.
The original idea was to create an educational platform specifically for female football players, and I had received preliminary support for the project from KSÍ. But after presenting the idea at the Women in Sports conference organised by Reykjavík University in cooperation with the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland (ÍSÍ) and the Icelandic Youth Association (UMFÍ), held at RU last year, it became clear that there was a much broader interest in the issues specific to women in sports.
Says Lára, adding that Hafrún then sought funding for the project, which made it possible to expand the platform and bring more specialists on board.
Limited research on athletes returning after childbirth
Although research on women in sports has increased in recent years, Lára says that relatively little research has been conducted in Iceland, particularly on female athletes. She stresses the importance of expanding research and opening discussions about issues that affect women in sports. One area she highlights is the return of athletes to sport after pregnancy and childbirth.
More and more women are returning to sport after having children, but the reality is that many people know very little about how to manage that process. That knowledge is extremely important because a successful return to sport plays a big role in helping women stay in their sport longer.
Says Lára, also noting that education about topics such as egg retrieval and fertility preservation can help athletes make informed decisions about family planning during their sporting careers.
Supporting girls during puberty
Another major focus of the platform is supporting young athletes during puberty, a stage that can be challenging and may contribute to girls dropping out of sports.
It is very important to support female athletes effectively during puberty to reduce dropout rates.
The website includes educational material on topics such as the pelvic floor, the menstrual cycle and puberty, helping young athletes understand the physical changes they experience during adolescence. She often tells younger football players that this is the kind of education she wishes she had received when she was a youth national team player.
During puberty, it is normal for the body to change, gain weight, and sometimes temporarily lose endurance or feel a bit clumsy as it grows so quickly. The aim of the educational material is mainly to explain what they can do to support themselves during this stage, such as taking care of their bodies, eating well, sleeping enough and training properly.
She explains, adding that emphasis is put on a healthy body rather than appearance, especially since nowadays one may find an abundance of myths and misinformation online, which was another reason she felt the platform was necessary. She is particularly concerned about harmful messages circulating on social media about women’s exercise and body image.
There has been a backlash on social media regarding women’s bodies and physical activity, such as the idea that women should not lift weights, and there is a lot of messaging connected to ‘diet culture,’ which can be especially dangerous for younger girls.
A lifelong passion for football
Lára herself began playing football at the age of five and continued throughout the youth divisions and into senior-level competition. She originally played for Víkingur Reykjavík, later for KR and Breiðablik, and eventually for HK/Víkingur after the clubs merged. Although she stopped playing competitively a few years ago, football remains a major part of her life.
“When I stopped playing, I moved into coaching and specialised in physical training for football players,” she says.
Originally, she didn´t plan to study sports science and completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration. Her career path changed about a decade later, after she spent six months studying strength and conditioning in the United States. Making her realise that she wanted to work with something she was truly passionate about.
She later enrolled in courses in the BSc programme in Sport Science at RU, where she discovered her true academic interests and eventually completed her master’s degree there.
A changing landscape in women’s football
Lára says the environment for female athletes has changed significantly since she trained professionally. Training methods are now more professional and data-driven, and there is greater awareness of differences between men’s and women’s physiology.
She also notes that the approach to training has become more individualised, and that the conditions for women’s football, such as facilities, funding and professional support, have improved, although progress is still needed.
I especially hope that men will visit the platform as well. It is important that awareness spreads throughout society so that support for women’s sports increases and hopefully funding as well.
Looking ahead, Hafliðadóttir hopes to complete her doctoral research within the next five years and possibly pursue a postdoctoral position abroad. Regardless of where her career takes her, she plans to continue working in coaching and education.
Date
Share