How future female football stars are made

Women’s soccer in England is enjoying a golden era.

 

The Women’s Super League (WSL) continues to grow in popularity, and the Lionesses’ inspiring performances on the international stage defending and retaining their European Championship this summer have captured the imagination of fans and future stars alike.

 

The likes of Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze and Chloe Kelly are now household names and serve as powerful role models for young girls. In response, professional clubs are investing more than ever in youth development, building pathways designed to nurture the next generation of elite talent. But what does it really take to become a professional player and how can coaches working in the women’s game at every level potentially play a meaningful role in shaping that journey?

 

To answer these questions, my colleagues and I examined the developmental pathways of 28 professional players who competed in the 2020/21 WSL season. We compared their journeys to players who were also part of the same academies but did not go on to play professionally. Our work uncovered practical insights for coaches to support player development.

 

The power of play

It’s no secret that an early start is key. Our results showed that professional players typically began playing soccer around age six, started coach-led practice by seven and entered competitive matches between ages eight and nine. By age 12 when they entered a professional academy setting, they had accumulated more than 1,500 hours of soccer-specific activity, over double that of their non-professional peers.

 

But what’s interesting is that a large portion of this early engagement came from informal peer-led play, with professional players logging nearly three times as many hours in play during childhood compared to their non-professional counterparts. This type of play includes street soccer and backyard games, all of which foster creativity, decision-making and game intelligence. Coaches may want to encourage their players to engage in informal peer-led play outside of structured practice, particularly during early years.

 

Coaches tip: Let them play! Unstructured peer-led play like street soccer or backyard kickabouts lays the foundation for creativity, decision-making and game intelligence. Encourage your players to play freely outside of formal practice sessions. Many of today’s best players started with a ball and a few friends.

 

The developmental divide

As players transition into adolescence, the gap between future professionals and their peers begins to widen. Professional players often entered academy systems one or two years earlier than their peers, giving them a head start in structured development. Throughout adolescence they consistently engaged in more coach-led practice. By 16 years of age, they were training around five hours per week. Despite the emphasis on formal practice, informal play remained a key factor of development.

 

Coaches tip: Use game-like scenarios to mirror match demands. Small-sided games and conditioned play foster creativity, decision-making and game intelligence more effectively than isolated drills. While repetition is important, drills can oversimplify play. Let the game be the teacher.

 

Perceptions matter

Both groups rated practice and competition as physically and mentally demanding. However, non-professional players perceived these activities as more effortful, particularly during early adolescence. This may reflect a mismatch between task difficulty and skill level, a crucial consideration for coaches when designing their practice sessions. Interestingly, enjoyment and motivation remained high across all activities. Even effortful practice was often rated as enjoyable, suggesting that well-designed sessions can be both challenging and fun.

 

Coaches tip: Effective training stretches players just beyond their comfort zone. If practice is too easy, learning stalls; too hard, and players disengage. Aim for that sweet spot where challenge meets ability to spark growth. Adjust intensity based on skill level and keep sessions purposeful, game-relevant, and engaging.

 

Beyond the pitch: Other-sport participation

While soccer was the primary focus for all players in the study, engagement in other sports played a meaningful role in their development. 70% of players took part in other sports during childhood and adolescence, including athletics, swimming, cricket and hockey. On average, they participated in 1.6 sports starting around age 10, accumulating hundreds of hours of activity. While some dropped out during adolescence, a dedicated few continued, highlighting the value of diverse sporting experiences in long-term development.

 

Coaches tip: Encourage your young players to explore other sports. Multi-sport participation builds transferable skills, reduces burnout and supports long-term development.

 

One size doesn’t fit all

While common patterns emerged, our study indicated the sheer diversity in the developmental journeys of players and how they made it to the top. More than 70% of players in the study showed significant variation in their developmental journeys. Some focused more on play, others on competition, and a surprising number engaged in little to no soccer-specific play. This underscores the need for flexible, player-centred approach to talent development, rather than one-size-fits-all models.

 

Coaches tip: Avoid rigid models of development. Instead, tailor your approach to each player’s unique journey. Track engagement, motivation, and skill progression, not just hours. Flexibility and understanding can unlock potential where traditional pathways fall short.

 

 

The journey to becoming a professional women’s soccer player is anything but linear. While early engagement, structured practice and informal play are common threads, what our research makes clear is that coaches play a pivotal role, not just in delivering sessions, but in designing environments that nurture growth, creativity and resilience. Whether it’s encouraging informal play with friends, balancing challenge with skill level, or supporting multi-sport exploration, the coach’s influence extends far beyond the pitch.