Team captains’ experiences of sporting leadership during menstruation in student-athletes

This study aimed to investigate the impact of menstruation on team captains’ leadership experiences and whether menstruation has implications on performance as a team captain. Twelve captains from eight different sports participated in semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Five main themes were generated: 1) Navigating Heightened Negative Emotions, 2) Communication Under Strain, 3) The Struggle to Lead on Low Motivation, 4) Influence on Cognitive Processes and 5) Disruptions to Confidence. In conclusion, the results revealed that whilst the team captains had unique experiences, navigating and approaching leadership roles in diverse ways, participants mostly agreed that performance as a captain was adversely affected during menstruation.