Story perspectives

Study Links Multiple Concussions to Attention Issues in Female Footballers

1/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Professional women footballers with three or more concussions may have reduced attention spans.
The Drake Football Study, conducted for FIFPRO, assessed 68 players and found reduced attention in those with multiple concussions.
Forty-three percent reported at least one concussion, with defenders showing the highest rates.
FIFPRO Medical Director Vincent Gouttebarge called for further research and stricter concussion management.
The study notes that women's football remains under-researched.

History

Historical Context

The Concussion Management in Sports Act, enacted in several U.S. states in 2011, aimed to protect athletes from head injuries amid rising concerns over sports-related concussions, estimated at 1.6 to 3.8 million annually. Recent studies, including the Drake Football Study, reveal that 43% of professional women footballers report concussions, highlighting the need for stricter management protocols in underrepresented sports.

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Story summary

Professional women footballers with three or more concussions may have reduced attention spans.
The Drake Football Study, conducted for FIFPRO, assessed 68 players and found reduced attention in those with multiple concussions.
Forty-three percent reported at least one concussion, with defenders showing the highest rates.
FIFPRO Medical Director Vincent Gouttebarge called for further research and stricter concussion management.
The study notes that women's football remains under-researched.

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