Women in Sport
Starting with my lived experience, I have directly benefited from the power of sport to develop, push and provide opportunities that can change the trajectory of one’s life. As a person that was fundamentally changed in life, opportunity, and career due to sport, I have always sought to give back in the way that sport has given to me. From my path as a coach to scientist, I began my first research focused on assisting the often under-funded, under-resourced, and under-appreciated women’s programs. Quite ironically, this commitment slowed the “start” to my research career because the magnitude of research on women in sport particularly focused on performance, was minimal and as such at times deemed “not impactful”. Times are slowly changing and I have always kept a dogged commitment to women in sports research. The following papers represent a continued research contribution that parallels my volunteer and paid contribution to women in sport through SSSM positions, committees and boards.
*I use the term “women” above to align with a more inclusive term. However, in some research below, the titles and language specifically state “female athletes” and in that research, the focus may have included some biological underpinnings purported to affect these athletes, in addition to sociocultural factors related more broadly to gender (women and girls). Therefore my research covers ‘women in sport’ but may make specific notes to ‘female athletes’ where discussions related to biology are included.
Kadlec, D., Jordan, M. J., Snyder, L., Alderson, J., & Nimphius, S. (2021). Test Re-test Reliability of Single and Multijoint Strength Properties in Female Australian Footballers. Sports Medicine - Open, 7(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00292-5 (Open Access)
Fox, A., Bonacci, J., Hoffmann, S., Nimphius, S., & Saunders, N. (2020). Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in Australian football: Should women and girls be playing? You’re asking the wrong question. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), e000778. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000778 (Open Access)
Nimphius, S. (2019). Exercise and Sport Science Failing by Design in Understanding Female Athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 14(9), 1157–1158. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0703 (Open Access)
Nimphius, S., McBride, J. M., Rice, P. E., et al. (2019). Comparison of quadriceps and hamstring muscle activity during an isometric squat between strength-matched men and women. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 18(1), 101-108. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30787657 (Open Access)
Spiteri, T., Newton, R. U., Binetti, M., Hart, N. H., Sheppard, J. M., & Nimphius, S. (2015). Mechanical determinants of faster change of direction and agility performance in female basketball athletes: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(8), 2205–2214. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000876 (Open Access)
Spiteri, T., Nimphius, S., Hart, N. H., Specos, C., Sheppard, J. M., & Newton, R. U. (2014). Contribution of strength characteristics to change of direction and agility performance in female basketball athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(9), 2415–2423. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000547 (Open Access)
Nimphius, S., McGuigan, M. R., & Newton, R. U. (2012). Changes in muscle architecture and performance during a competitive season in female softball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(10), 2655–2666. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318269f81e (Open Access)
Nimphius, S., McGuigan, M. R., & Newton, R. U. (2010). Relationship between strength, power, speed, and change of direction performance of female softball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(4), 885–895. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d4d41d (Open Access)