The WOMEN-KICK project, funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Sport Cooperation Partnerships programme, officially started with a transnational kick-off meeting held in Funchal, Madeira. The meeting marked the beginning of the project aimed at improving the health, performance, and long-term development of female football players through evidence-based education and innovation.
Partners from five European countries gathered in Funchal to establish a shared understanding of the project’s objectives, structure, and implementation approach. The discussions focused on addressing the specific physiological, health, and training-related challenges faced by women in football, including injury prevention, menstrual health management, energy availability, and sustainable performance development.
WOMEN-KICK brings together a diverse consortium of higher education institutions, sport science experts, innovative SMEs, and a sport association, combining academic research with applied expertise from the football environment.
Within the project, INQUIRY FUSE contributes its expertise by focusing on tasks 1.3. Internal Evaluation and Quality Assurance and task 2.4 Validation and feedback acquisition.
During the kick-off meeting, partners aligned on the project methodology and work plan, confirming their commitment to jointly developing tailored educational materials and a digital learning platform.
These outputs will support coaches, female athletes, and sports professionals in applying gender-sensitive, health-conscious approaches to football training and competition.
The meeting in Funchal also laid the foundation for effective cooperation across countries and disciplines, reinforcing a common vision to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable football environments for women and girls across Europe.
Over the coming months, the WOMEN-KICK project will begin its initial research and engagement activities, involving coaches, female athletes, and stakeholders in the development of practical, evidence-based solutions for women’s football.
