Physiology gives boys soccer advantage over women

A recent study explains why boys' soccer teams often defeat women's teams, but not in other sports like track and field. The difference is primarily due to physiological advantages. The study, prompted by a recent soccer match where a boys' team easily defeated a women's national team, highlights the impact of testosterone on boys' muscle mass, strength, and sprint abilities during puberty, which gives them an edge in the sport. This advantage is less pronounced in sports like track and field. Researchers hope the findings will help improve training for women's soccer, focusing on injury prevention and optimizing performance based on the unique physical demands of the sport. The study also suggests that traditional strength training may be replaced with more field-based exercises.