In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Andy McKeown, Lead Performance Coach at San Diego Wave, for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked phases of return to play in elite women's soccer: return to contact.

While return to running and on-field rehab are often highly structured, contact exposure is frequently treated like a "switch flip" at the end of the process, despite the fact that football is a chaotic invasion sport where contact is unavoidable.

Andy shares how his Return to Contact framework developed through real-world NWSL rehab scenarios (including postpartum return to performance and acute injuries), and how he approaches contact progression using a control to chaos continuum, influenced by match demands, positional requirements, and team playing style. He also breaks down how performance staff can use objective data like GPS while still respecting the reality that contact is difficult to track. This makes athlete feedback, coach's eye, and trust-based communication essential.

Topics include:

• Why return to contact is a critical bridge between rehab and full training
• How to progress contact from controlled exposures to game-realistic chaos
• Different contact demands by position, team style, and phase of play
• Why "contact" includes more than collisions (blocking shots, aerial duels, 1v1s, etc.)
• How Andy integrates contact exposure while still building toward GPS targets
• The role of subjective readiness, autonomy, and athlete trust in return to play decision-making
• Practical drill examples for defending, duels, and contact-specific progressions

For more learning, growth, and connection, be sure to attend the Soccer Performance Support Summit this summer!

More info and registration:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole sits down with legendary coach Laura Harvey to break down the tactical side of football in a way that medical and performance staff can actually use.

Laura is the most winningest and longest tenured coach in NWSL history, and in this conversation she explains how phases of play, pressing strategies, transition moments, and team structure directly influence match demands and physical preparation. From high press vs mid block vs low block, to why attacking transition can be so deadly, Laura gives a practical "Tactics 101" framework that helps support staff better understand what players are being asked to do on the pitch.

This episode is packed with real-world coaching insight and clear explanations that connect tactics to training load, rehab planning, and weekly periodization.

Topics include:

• What "phases of play" actually mean (structured attack/defense + transition moments)
• High press vs mid block vs low block and how each changes physical demands
• What different positions are responsible for during a high press
• Why the 5–8 second transition window can decide games
• How coaches manipulate opponents to create space in buildup
• What happens immediately after losing the ball (and why it matters)
• Set pieces, throw-ins, and the "decoy" roles that create goals
• How climate, travel, and league trends influence tactical choices
• How Laura structures a training week to prepare tactically while managing injury risk

Don't miss the Soccer Performance Support Summit where professionals across the NWSL, MLS, USL, and NCAA will gather to learn, grow, and connect!

June 20-21, 2026 in New Jersey

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Malorie Henderlong, Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Auburn University, for a practical deep dive into strength and conditioning in Division I women's college soccer.

Malorie shares how she approaches athlete development in a population that often arrives with a low training age, why she believes in doing the basics "simple, savagely well," and how she programs an entire roster with wide variation in experience, injury history, and playing time. She also breaks down the realities of modern college soccer, including the impact of the transfer portal, managing roster turnover, and balancing physical development with the academic and life stressors that come with being a student athlete.

This conversation highlights what it really takes to keep players healthy, available, and progressing in a demanding NCAA environment where the calendar never truly slows down.

Topics include:

• Simple movement foundations for low training age athletes (squat, hinge, push, pull, core)
• How Malorie prepares incoming athletes before they arrive on campus
• Programming around injury history while still driving performance
• How the transfer portal changes long term development and load management
• Wellness surveys, RPE, and GPS data in the college setting
• In season lifting structure vs spring development blocks
• Fitness testing (Bronco), maximal aerobic speed, and individualized conditioning
• How to "fill buckets" based on position specific match demands

Register for the Soccer Performance Support Summit!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator