Stepping into play: a FIFA decision aid for football participation after childbirth

Key Points

1. The FIFA Stepping into Play Postpartum is an evidence-informed, football-specific decision aid tool that was developed to be used by athletes or medical and performance staff across diverse contexts.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Remember when starting a family used to signal the end of an athletic career? Well, tell that to Sara Björk Gunnarsdottir. She might not be as well-known as the likes of Alex Morgan or Sophia Wilson, but all players share a journey in returning to professional football (soccer) following pregnancy. In Björk Gunnarsdottir’s case, she won a legal claim against her then club, Olympique Lyonnais, which entitled her to full payment throughout her pregnancy (1).

While maternity regulations are new in professional football – FIFA only started implementing them in 2021– athletes have long been returning to amateur and recreational football for many years, typically with little to no formal advice or guidance. Therefore, this study sought to develop a decision aid to support returning to football after childbirth, regardless of the context (e.g. amateur or elite, low or high resources).

Athletes have long been returning to amateur and recreational football for many years, typically with little to no formal advice or guidance.

The more support available to these athletes, the more likely pregnancy will no longer be considered the end of football career.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Guided by the knowledge-to-action cycle (2), the FIFA Stepping into Play Postpartum decision aid was developed over five phases. The phases are outlined below, including what was planned (methods) and what happened (results).

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