FIFPRO this week launched the Postpartum Return to Play Guide to help footballers, their entourage and competition regulators better understand and manage the ‘return to play’ phase after pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Upon listening to players’ pre- and postpartum experiences and analysing existing scientific literature, FIFPRO discovered a lack of readily available advice and knowledge available to players. One of the aims of the Postpartum Return to Play Guide is to begin to fill that void.
Developed by a taskforce of professional women footballers with lived experience of the return to play journey and a group of medical and academic experts, the guide offers invaluable recommendations for players and aims to change perceptions for future pregnant footballers. FIFPRO brings you five key takeaways from the guide.
Postpartum Return to Play Guide
FIFPRO has launched a 48-page guide to help professional footballers, as well as their families, team staff and other football stakeholders, better understand and manage pregnancy and the phase after childbirth.
1) Wellbeing is the ultimate focus
There are many considerations for a player preparing for their postpartum return to sport, including the physical experience of childbirth and how it might affect areas such as their abdominal wall or pelvic floor. This is not the only change that could impact performance if left unaddressed, with energy balance, breast health, menstrual cycles, disrupted sleep, and mental health all playing a part in a new parent’s overall wellbeing.
Above all, it is important for players to remember that wellbeing should be the core focus. Players should prioritise themselves and embrace this journey and change through each stage.
2) No one-size-fits-all approach
The intention of this guide is to direct players, clubs, leagues, federations, and any other necessary groups through pregnancy, birth, maternity, and postpartum return to play.
This journey will be unique to each player who undertakes it, so it is important to note the guidance cannot be viewed as a rigid step-by-step process that must be followed exactly by each individual. Rather, it is intended to provide general advice and direction for key moments that players can refer to throughout their journey, while preparing to achieve optimum performance upon returning to the game.
3) Know your rights
Since 1 January 2021, regulations have been in place to protect the rights of professional players who get pregnant during their careers. Players should familiarise themselves with the FIFA Maternity Regulations and check what rights are applicable to them under any collective agreement in place in their league, what is applicable under national law, and what is applicable by FIFA.
Domestic player unions can offer trusted legal advice to help guide players through the regulations.
4) Your player union is always on-hand to help
Players should contact their domestic union or player association, or contact FIFPRO if their nation does not have a union or association.
Player unions and associations can guide footballers through any individual contractual obligations, as well as what support, benefits and rights players are legally entitled to. Players can also be put in touch with a support/experience network for personalised guidance via their union that ensures they are objectively informed on what they can expect, as well as possibilities they should be prepared for.
5) Be proactive with club and/or national team
It is important that players have a sufficient support network in place on the postpartum journey – whether that’s being able to rely on their club or national team doctor, strength and conditioning coaches, the team psychologist, the team nutritionist or even team-mates.
Players should sit down and establish a plan with their club of how their pregnancy and return to play will be approached, such as reaching an agreement in writing on what conditions, services, rights, and benefits the club will provide, including childcare allowances for training and travelling, food allowances, specialist equipment and apparel. The same also applies with national teams.
