Women's football with cerebral palsy: Current situation and gender differences applied to classification

Football for people with cerebral palsy (CP) has received increased attention, particularly regarding female participation during the inaugural competitive events of 2022. However, a notable knowledge gap exists, specifically, in understanding their distinct physical proficiency, when compared to their male counterparts. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical proficiency of international women with CP attending the sport class (FT1-FT3) and comparing their physical performance by sex. Ninety (female = 45; male = 45) football players with CP who competed in the 2022 World Cup in Spain participated in this study. They were categorised into three sports classes based on their international classification and sex: FT1 = 14, FT2=20 and FT3 = 5. Participants underwent two trials of the 10-m sprint test and the 505 test, followed by vertical and horizontal jumps. A one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post-hoc comparison was utilized to examine differences between players´ sports classes. Additionally, an unpaired t-test was used to compare the physical performance of male and female para-footballers. Female FT1 players exhibited lower performance in both the 505 test and standing broad jump when compared to FT3 players. FT1 players also showed shorter vertical jump heights and required more time for a 10-m sprint compared to both FT2 and FT3 players. Overall, when compared to men, women showed lower performance in all the tests (p < .01). The findings offer novel insights into the physical performance and current physical profiles of female football players with CP at the international level. As in male players, the differences between classes underline the relevance of the use of these measurements during the classification process. Future research should explore gender-specific considerations for the classification and coaching of female footballers with CP.