Maternity and sporting victory days: “Women can do anything”

“Women can do anything.” At the ‘Motherhood and success in sports’ conference, held this Tuesday, June 18, the Spanish Football Players Association addressed a major issue for female footballers, and also for female athletes in general. How to regain optimal physical condition to return to competing at the highest level after pregnancy, with one phrase that summarizes everything discussed and analyzed.

Framed in the ‘AFE Meetings’, a series of conferences organized by the union to address all kinds of issues affecting professional athletes, this conference was opened by Ángel Rodríguez, co-director of the Legal Department of the association, taking place at Next, a round table starring María Alharilla, Levante UD footballer in League F and mother; ⁠Eder Etxeberria Corta, sports doctor at Educación First; and Elena García Grimau, international athlete, mother and doctor in Physical Education and Sports Sciences.

In addition, AFE attended with its president, David Aganzo; its general secretary, Diego Rivas; the co-director of the Legal Department, María José López; the delegates and former soccer players Jade Boho, Cristina Vega and Tania Tabanera; and the head of the Department of Health, Geni Martinez. The day was presented and moderated by Gemma Santos, journalist from the COPE network.

Reconciliation

In his presentation, Ángel Rodríguez focused on the legal context related to motherhood and family reconciliation, starting with what is established in the Law of Workers, analyzing the provisions and rights established there. He also mentioned Sports Law, the issues included in relation to this topic.

Also, the AFE lawyer appreciates the work of FIFPRO and David Aganzo when it comes to including some aspects in FIFA’s Statute and Transfer of Players (RETJ).

On the other hand, Ángel Rodríguez highlighted the work done by the union on the first Collective Agreement for soccer players in the First Division and the current talks to improve it. It is worth highlighting on this last point that we want to introduce a protocol to monitor cases of pregnancy, enable a breastfeeding room in training areas, implement a daycare service for children under 3 years old, physical and mental help after giving birth…

“Motherhood and work-life balance must always go hand in hand,” emphasized Ángel Rodríguez, considering important issues “such as adapting to the workday” in the new life of an athlete who is pregnant or has become a mother, ” since it has a definite relationship like the worker. Therefore, we must move forward in this aspect.”

Mental health

“I’m not only thinking about recovery, I’m thinking about playing again at the highest level,” said María Alharilla, who considers that “mental health is very important, because as a mother you can think that you will never come back like of before. It took me a year to regain my top level. Now I have it” and that’s why it’s clear to her that “you can be a mother and a professional soccer player.”

The elite athlete, Elena García Grimau said that “not all athletes have the same support, so I envy everything that AFE has achieved for soccer players. We have no contract or legal framework that protects to us, so it’s important to give the soccer players a chance. In my case, I didn’t have any help and thanks to my physio I recovered well.”

As in the case of cruciate ligament damage, there is a protocol set for rehabilitation, a clear path to follow, in the case at hand “there is no protocol, guidelines or deadlines,” says Eder Etxeberria, when it will be something that is very necessary “because we need to help women recover both physically and psychologically.”

“Any support is necessary,” insists Elena García Grimau, because of her case “I don’t know if I can recover the level I had before. On a psychological level I handled it well, but it’s true that you don’t have help when it comes in orienting yourself” to the path to take, “so I relied on my partner and my environment, but it was pure improvisation.” “A lot of progress has been made in the world of football, but since our work day is full, as in any work, it is necessary to have the best resources, such as having a lactation room, etc.,” said María Alharilla.

“Our idea has always been that AFE’s work has a driving effect, which in the long run can make the lives of athletes in other specialties easier. We love that they ‘use us’ in this sense, ” says Diego Rivas, who is clear that “women should not give up being mothers and athletes.”

Right to decide to breastfeed

Regarding breastfeeding, “the athlete has the right to decide, because it is something that clearly affects him on a physical level. It is a personal choice and it should not be criminalized,” said Eder Etxeberria, who recognizes María Alharilla that “I left it at a certain moment, each person handles it in a different way and the athlete must be free to decide.” “The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends six months of breastfeeding, but you have to be free, as María says, when making a decision,” added Elena García Grimau, who “has no problem when it comes to stopping breastfeeding.” when I think about it.”

Highest level

“If you want, you will return to your best level. Yes, you can… And thanks to conferences like this one organized by AFE, athletes are helped,” Eder Etxeberria highlights, “although the fear is always there,” said María Alharilla, which means “I am always clear that I will be a mother, and I was when I was at the highest level,” encouraging any athlete to follow her example, “to take the step, because if you set your mind to return to the highest level, you will achieve it’s yours.” “A friend always tells me that the athlete returns a stronger mentality to the competition after becoming a mother,” declared the doctor to remove doubts for any athlete who might have it.

“As María commented, the fear is always there. In my case, I was a late mother, because if I had support, I would have been earlier. In short, I decided to postpone my motherhood until the end of my career, a shame because I know cases similar to mine,” denounced Elena García Grimau, who asked for “help for athletes” who no or lost status of High Athlete, as it happened, “help everyone,” in a word. “And we don’t have help in terms of studies and other issues, when we are workers like others, so I ask for equality in relation to other jobs,” concluded María Alharilla.