A podcast about performance in women’s football. We cover any topic that impacts on performance, health and wellbeing of female athletes including sports medicine, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, sports science, strength & conditioning, sports nutrition, sports psychology & sports podiatry.
#087 How do we stop talented girls dropping out, breaking down, or burning out? with Dr Paul Gamble
How do we stop talented girls dropping out, breaking down, or burning out?
In this episode of Women's Football Hub, Carolyn Kent sits down with internationally recognised coach, consultant, author and sports scientist Dr Paul Gamble to discuss one of the most significant challenges facing girls' sport.
Together they explore why participation rates decline sharply during adolescence, how puberty changes the sporting experience for girls, and what schools, coaches and parents can do to better support long-term athletic development.
Dr Gamble explains why early exposure to a variety of sports matters, challenges common misconceptions about strength training for young female athletes, and discusses the growing concerns around early specialisation, burnout, and the professionalisation of youth sport.
The conversation also examines the realities of sports parenting, including post-match conversations, parent-coach relationships, academy pathways, and the importance of putting the child's experience at the centre of every decision.
Key themes include:
• Girls' participation and dropout in sport• Puberty, performance and confidence• Strength training for young female athletes• Injury prevention and athletic development• Multi-sport participation versus early specialisation• Burnout and overtraining in youth sport• Sports parenting and coach relationships• Academy pathways and talent development• Keeping girls active for life
An episode for parents, coaches, teachers, and practitioners working to create better sporting experiences for girls and young women.
#WomensFootball #GirlsSport #SportsParenting #FemaleAthlete #FootballCoaching #YouthDevelopment #WomenInSport #SportsScience #GirlsFootball #PlayerDevelopment
4 Sept 2026
#086 Wearables and female athletes with Dr Paul Bowell
Wearable technology is now a normal part of modern sport, but how is it affecting female athletes?
In this episode, Carolyn Kent is joined by Dr Paul Bowell from Swinburne University of Technology to explore the growing use of GPS trackers, heart rate monitors, wellness questionnaires, sleep tracking tools, and menstrual cycle apps in women's sport.
Drawing on his research with female athletes, Dr Bowell discusses how wearable technology can improve performance, support injury rehabilitation, and provide athletes with valuable insights into their bodies. At the same time, he highlights important concerns around surveillance, data ownership, athlete wellbeing, privacy, and the risk of placing too much trust in metrics while ignoring the wider context of an athlete's life.
The conversation also examines how under-resourced women's sport can create unique challenges around technology, athlete education, and data interpretation.
This is a discussion for coaches, practitioners, researchers, players, and anyone interested in the future of women's sport.
#WomensFootball #FemaleAthletes #SportsScience #SportsTechnology #AthleteData #PerformanceAnalysis #WomenInSport #FootballPodcast #WearableTechnology #SportsResearch
7 Aug 2026
#085 Long term activity development with Maria Omma
In this episode, Carolyn Kent is joined by Maria Omma, an experienced strength and conditioning coach, to explore the shift from long-term athletic development to long-term activity development.
They discuss how traditional performance-focused models often overlook the realities of human development and why a more flexible, individualised approach is needed. The conversation highlights the importance of enjoyment, play, and creativity in keeping people engaged in movement throughout life.
Key topics include the five phases of activity development, supporting women returning to football, physical literacy, and practical ways to build strength and resilience without access to facilities.
This episode is relevant for coaches, practitioners, and anyone interested in increasing participation and improving long-term engagement in sport.
#WomensFootball #LongTermActivityDevelopment #Coaching #PhysicalLiteracy #WomenInSport #Participation #StrengthAndConditioning #SportDevelopment #ActiveLifestyle #Football
Who has been a guest on Women’s Football Hub
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Elliot Greenberg
Dr Ted Ganley
Dr Sam McHaffie
Kayleigh Dougan
Dr Sue Jones
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
78
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Women’s Football Hub
Who hosts Women’s Football Hub?
Carolyn Kent and Dr Ian Cookson host the show. Published by womensfootballhub8.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Women’s Football Hub take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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