In this episode of The Offside Rule, hosts Lynsey Hooper, Kait Borsay, and Hayley McQueen are joined by Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, to discuss one of the most pressing topics in women’s football, ACL injuries, and the groundbreaking research now underway to better understand and prevent them.
Smith shares how Kitman Labs is partnering with the WSL Football and NWSL to collect and analyse live performance and medical data from across the leagues, finally bridging the research gap in women’s sport. The discussion unpacks the science behind non-contact ACL injuries, the lack of existing female-specific data, and why collaboration across clubs and governing bodies is key to protecting athletes from the grassroots level upward.
It’s a compelling conversation about turning data into action, building the world’s first large-scale applied study of female athlete health, and how those insights could transform the future of the game.
Why Listen
- Bridging the gap: Why the lack of historical data in women’s football has limited ACL research, and how Kitman Labs is changing that.
- Science meets sport: The anatomical, hormonal, and biomechanical factors that contribute to ACL injuries in women athletes.
- Collective power: How combining data across clubs and leagues can create findings strong enough to drive real change.
- Beyond elite football: Why this research will benefit the entire pyramid, from the WSL to grassroots and youth development.
- Investment in impact: The six-figure commitment Kitman Labs has made to drive innovation and research in player health and safety.
Hear the full episode with Lynsey Hooper, Kait Borsay, and Hayley McQueen right here, and if you enjoy it, explore more insightful conversations from The Offside Rule Podcast at offsiderulepodcast.com
