Three concussions can affect the attention span of female football players, research shows

Professional female footballers who have suffered three or more concussions may experience reduced attention spans, according to a study led by global players’ union FIFPRO and released on Thursday.

The study, part of the ongoing 10-year Drake Football Study, evaluated neurocognitive function in 68 female players.

Players who reported at least three concussions performed “significantly worse” on tasks that required attention than players with fewer or no previous concussions, the researchers said. In football, these skills are linked to tracking the ball and opponents, maintaining positional awareness and reacting quickly in match situations.

Forty-three percent of players surveyed had suffered at least one concussion, with the incidence highest among defenders, with 50 percent suffering one or more concussions.

“Overall, the research suggests that female footballers do not show widespread cognitive problems during their careers, but repeated concussions can have a meaningful impact on attention,” said FIFPRO medical director Vincent Gouttebarge.

Further research, he added, is needed to determine whether new health recommendations should be introduced.

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The players performed within the normal range for the general population on 11 of 12 cognitive domains, performing above average in motor speed – how quickly the brain can send signals to the body – which researchers attributed to the neuromuscular demands of elite football.

No broad cognitive impairment was identified during the players’ active careers.

The findings mirror those from a parallel analysis conducted on male professional players and published in 2024, which also found that repeated concussions were associated with declines in simple and complex attention, but not in other areas of cognitive function, Gouttebarge said.

“Women’s soccer has historically been underrepresented in concussion research, meaning this study provides valuable, female-specific evidence,” Gouttebarge added.

Despite the lack of widespread shortages, he said the results underscored the need for strict concussion management and return-to-play protocols, especially in cases of repetitive head injuries.

Launched in 2019 in partnership with FIFPRO, the Drake Football Study tracks the physical and mental health of 170 male and female footballers from around the world during and after their careers.

Published on January 22, 2026