Foothills members were treated to
an informative session on January 24 as part of our “Women In Sport Education Series.”
Carla van den Berg, Club coach and PhD student at the University of Calgary (with support from Girls Academy Manager Greg de Carnys and Head of Sports Science Chase Wetherell), presented on the subject of “Understanding the Menstrual Cycle to Optimize Female Athlete Health and Performance” including:
- Understanding the basics of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives
- How the menstrual cycle impacts performance and injury risk
- Practical strategies for managing the menstrual cycle in sport
- An Introduction to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDS)
The feedback from attendees has been outstanding, with all describing Carla’s session as being very well done and informative. Some of the most cited learnings were:
- Debunking the myth that you are more prone to injury (especially ACL) during your period.
- Learning about the different stages of your cycle, how it impacts performance and mental health, and how and why to track it.
- Managing exercise and training.
- The impact (and importance) of nutrition. (Watch for more about this coming soon from Foothills.)
About the Presenter
Carla van den Berg is an exceptional sports science leader who has been making waves as the Assistant Head of Sports Science at Foothills and as the Sports Science Lead for our United Women’s Soccer and Women’s League1 Alberta teams.
Carla’s passion and commitment to the world of sports science, especially in catering to the unique needs of female athletes, is truly commendable. Her research at the University of Calgary focuses on the menstrual cycle in elite athletes, and she is excited to share her expertise to help players, parents, and coaches better understand how to support female athletes’ health and performance.
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