Insuring women’s football - Protecting the game and its players

Authored by Guy Bonwick, Head of International Accident & Health, AXIS

Exploring the relationship between women’s football and the insurance industry captures the evolving understanding of risk, the role of technology and data, and the necessity of insurance to a maturing sport. But more importantly, it unveils another essential aspect – that insurers need a deep understanding of the specific challenges faced by women in the game and an appreciation of the differences in risk exposures between women’s and men’s football.

For the insurance industry, the professionalisation of the women’s game has brought deeper interest and involvement as safeguarding the health and wellbeing of players, as well as ensuring the financial stability of clubs, has become paramount.

Insuring a growing game

The first recorded professional women’s football matches took place in the 1890s after which it grew in popularity, being played in front of crowds of thousands until a five-decade ban was imposed by the UK’s Football Association (FA) in 1921 on the grounds of “unsuitability”. Women’s football returned to stadiums in the 1970s, but it is in more recent years – much like the Lionesses at the Euros last year – that it has roared onto our screens as tens of thousands of people fill stadiums for big games around the world.

The sums of money involved in the game have now significantly increased. As the importance of players protecting their earnings and clubs protecting their investments has grown, the insurance industry’s contribution to the game has closely shadowed its ascent. But the transition to a more established form of the game – characterized by increased viewers, more valuable media rights, and a global transfer market – has brought with it its own complications, challenges, and opportunities.

Understanding risks and injuries

In the 2022/23 season of the Women’s Super League more than 20 top female players tore their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and studies suggest women have three to six times higher risk of ACL injuries than men. Speaking to Dr Justin Hughes on the Sports Doctor podcast, Dr Pippa Bennett, ex-England football doctor and medical lead of Woman’s Super League said this is potentially due to women moving, turning, and decelerating differently from men.

“Without the same amounts of data collected over decades within the men’s game, there is a shortage of comprehensive research in the women’s game”

As more data on injuries women face is accumulated and our knowledge develops, it brings improvements to both player welfare and insurers’ ability to accurately provide coverage. It also draws a distinction between the men’s and women’s game, directing both clubs and insurers away from assumptions based on the men’s game and towards a more dedicated focus.

Data, technology, and advancements in insurance

Hand in hand with the need to better understand the women’s game is the role of data and technology. The increased use of data and technology in women’s football can mitigate risks for players, drive advancements in the insurance industry, and ultimately make it easier to protect the wellbeing of players.

One key application in attempting to better understand injuries is the use of tracking devices. These help coaches and physios track all elements of a player’s health and performance, highlighting when a player is most at risk and helping to avoid potential injuries.

They also set out clear indicators that can be applied to younger players getting into the game. Analysis of data such as this has allowed sports manufacturers to develop a kit specifically designed for women with the objective of optimizing performance while reducing the risk of injury.

More detailed and available data has also become crucial as the game has gone global. Insurers generally monitor their total exposure by team due to the common risk of players traveling together but given the nature of football, players transfer between clubs so it can be hard to keep up with total exposure.