Female-Centric Soccer Gear Informed by Biomechanics and Design Insights

Abstract

Soccer is a demanding sport that requires players to perform quick multiplanar movements on variable natural and artificial turf surfaces. Despite over a century of women’s participation in soccer, soccer footwear and other sports gear is primarily informed by research on male athletes by default. In fact, only 6% of literature in sports and exercise science is focused specifically on females (Cowley et al., 2021). This thesis project includes a literature review on soccer biomechanics studies, an analysis of plantar pressure data from a 20-athlete soccer-specific running and cutting task study conducted at the Bowerman Sports Science Center, and an exploration of qualitative insights from athlete-centered ethnographic design research. This project exists at the intersection of quantitative biomechanics data and qualitative design insights tailored to female athlete needs. The first section asks, how have previous biomechanics studies evaluated soccer footwear performance? The second section asks, how does plantar pressure distribution, measured by force-time integral, differ between males and females for cutting and sprinting tasks? Lastly, the final section culminates in an insights-driven research and design process that addresses the question, how might we empower female soccer athlete performance by building trust in supportive gear? One possible solution proposed at the end of this thesis is an insole design concept that is compatible with the female athlete’s existing gear and might help mitigate the risk of overpronation that accompanies knee and ankle instability. By combining scientific data with design insights and lived experiences, this thesis aims to contribute to the sports product design literature by amplifying the voices of female athletes.