Exploring the Development Process of Female Football in Ecuador

Abstract

This research work identifies and analyzes the development process of women's football in Ecuador. Through a chronological approach, four crucial stages are defined: neighborhood leagues, national team creation, amateur championships and a national championship.

In order to have a perspective of the context of women's football in the country, a work of information gathering was carried out, and later interviews were conducted with different actors that form the female national football environment: players, coaches, managers and relatives of athletes.

The results obtained reflect essential problems that women's football is going through, both at a managerial level and at a social level. Some of these problems are lack of planning, lack of support, organizational problems, managers non-interest, gender issues, being the primary factor the lack of development of the sports industry in the country itself.

The possible solutions that could make women's football go from being a challenge to a reality in Ecuador are to carry out a plan that respects the process of development of the sport in mention and take into account the recommendations and support that the international federation of this sport offers to the countries interested in its development.

Keywords: Female football, development, community leagues, National Championship