Sports have never been easy for females, with juggling personal ambitions like pregnancy and professional dreams of their sports careers it’s not an easy road to navigate. To support this, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched their Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines
for female cricketers. The guidelines will provide support to players, Member Boards, medical professionals and coaches and a framework for their return to cricket.
To ensure a safe and sustainable return to cricket, the ICC’S guidelines outline the 6 Rs framework:
• Ready
• Review
• Restore
• Recondition
• Return and Refine
The framework will start from early recovery after birth, with medical and wellbeing reviews, gradual return to structured training, cricket-specific conditioning, return to play, and ongoing monitoring once a player is back in the cricket environment.
Boards have been recommended to appoint a case manager to be the primary point of contact for players’ returning after pregnancy. The ICC has also recommended a care team, including an internal cricket team and an external treating team.
The Internal Cricket Team should include:
• Cricket Medical Officer
• A physiotherapist
• A strength & conditioning coach
• Dietician
• Psychologist
• A player development coach
• The main coach
While the External Team will involve:
• Obstetrician and/or the treating doctor
• A Women’s Health Physio
• The player’s partner, family member or a dedicated support person
The drafting of the guidelines was led by the Australian Team Doctor, and ICC Medical Advisory Committee member, Dr Philippa Inge. She helped create the practical support considerations, suitable spaces for feeding or caring for babies at venues, and travel support, where possible, etc.
Dr Inge stated, “The ICC’s Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines are designed to show players that having a baby doesn’t need to be the end of their career, and what we’re aiming to do with this policy is allow Member nations to facilitate the return to cricket for their players. We know that many Members haven’t necessarily had these in the past, and the aim has been to make them adaptable for the unique environments in which our Members need to use them. The guidelines serve as a template for Members, and strong support for an athlete returning to cricket post-pregnancy needs to be individualised to the specific needs of them and their family.”
The framework for regular meetings between support teams and the particular player has also been laid out:
On announcement of pregnancy: Announcement of pregnancy should be at the discretion of the player.
• Prior to birth (third trimester).
• 6-8 weeks post birth following the ‘review’ process.
• Every 4 weeks once the player decides to reintegrate into the Cricket Environment
The guidelines also offer some support for players making their way back to the sport from pregnancy including ensuring flexible work environments for players to balance cricket and parenthood.
Continued access to training facilities during the pregnancy and post-partum period (this will also include considerations about access to caregivers/babysitters, breastfeeding spaces, diaper changing stations etc)
Financial and practical assistance considerations for childcare
Alternative employment for players who aren’t completely fit to compete (like coaching, analysis or administrative roles).
Travel support for caregivers when a player is touring.
The guidelines also ask to extend contracts during pregnancy, and post-partum to support the return of the athlete.
The 6 Rs :
READY (0-6 WEEKS)
This phase involves healing and recovery post birth:
• Early pelvic floor activation
• Focus on psychological support in the adjustment to life as a mother. Exercise: Gradually increase exercise tolerance as able post birth, starting with gentle walking and progressing to longer bouts as able under the guidance of the medical team
REVIEW (6-8 WEEKS)
External Reviews:
• Obstetrician and/or General practitioner: Review and clearance including wound review.
• Women’s Health physio: Pelvic floor assessment.
Internal Reviews:
• Cricket Doctor: Review of blood tests including iron.
• Physio: Address relevant musculoskeletal issues.
• S&C: Graduated introduction of strength-based training.
• Psychology: Review of psychological stressors post-birth, including assessment of possible birth trauma.
• Dietician: Review energy availability (especially in the context of the breastfeeding player) and practicalities around fueling and meal preparation.
• Other: Consideration of social supports including childcare and practical requirements (babysitter accessibility, breastfeeding / pumping room).
Exercise Prescription:
• Introduction of non-ballistic aerobic activity as comfortable (swimming once bleeding has stopped / cycling if comfort allows).
• Graded reintroduction of strength based training.
Equipment:
• Review sports bra fit
RESTORE (8-16 WEEKS)
Preparation for return to a structured training environment:
• Graduated return to run program: Collaboration with women’s health physio and doctor / physio / S&C.
• Ensure social support in play to allow return to training program; consider training flexibility, childminding / carers responsibility, breast feeding / pumping room.
Recognise and address barriers to return including:
• Fatigue and poor recovery are secondary to babies’ sleep habits.
• Time availability due to childcare limitations.
• Player mental health.
• Physical limitations following birth.
RECONDITION (12-16 WEEKS)
• Reconditioning and graded exposure towards a sports specific training load to optimize performance and ensure a sustained return to play.
• Be mindful of periods of training / performance and ensure other MSK risks factors (overuse injury risk) are accounted for in programming.
REFINE
• Continue to review social sports and practical training / travel requirements.
• Monitor symptoms including musculoskeletal and pelvic floor issues.
• Ensure whole system approach eg; optimise sleep and recovery / monitor for low energy availability
RETURN
• The player returns to play.
