– I have not set myself a goal that I will hold on for that long, but I bet that it will be longer than the average age, says Stabæk player Justine Kvaleng Kielland (19). It is Nord University that has done the study which shows that female players in the Top Series retire long before they have reached their top level. The average age for women in the Toppserien is 22.7 years. It is four years lower than with the male colleagues in the Elite Series. Soccer players usually do not reach their top level until they are approaching 30 years of age. – It is sad to hear, but at the same time not so surprising, says Kvaleng Kielland. She believes one of the main reasons why women choose shorter careers is the salary level in Norwegian football. Large pay differences A survey from 2017 showed that male national team players earned around NOK 6.4 million more a year than women. – It is difficult for most people to live on wages. You have to work side by side, so that everyday life is not one hundred percent adapted so that you can only play football. There will be many balls in the air. She herself has chosen to study economics alongside her football efforts. It offers challenges for the 19-year-old. – Everyday life goes mostly in one and there is not much time for another. Now during the exam period, there was first a fight in Trondheim and we came home late. At 9 o’clock the next morning I was to have an exam the next morning. – The biggest challenge is to reach out on all sides. In addition to joining the national team, Kvaleng Kielland wants to move his career abroad. – I have the impression that the wage level is better there. Large total load The study at Nord University was conducted by Ingrid Amalie Hoftun Bjerksæter and Professor Pål Arild Lagestad. – Women find it difficult to combine football with studies and work, because the total load was so great, says Lagestad. RESEARCHER: Professor Pål Arild Lagestad and Ingrid Amalie Hoftun Bjerksæter Photo: Nord University Some of the main reasons why female top players leave are: Lack of motivation Concerns about finances Long-term injuries Strong desire to study Lack of confidence from coach and little playing time Interests outside football – We see that men earn significantly more, and that it is easier to make a living from football. It has gotten better, but it can get even better, Lagestad continues. This is how the researchers conducted the study. They interviewed five players between the ages of 19 and 24 about why they chose to leave. They have also interviewed four players between the ages of 26 and 31 about why they chose to continue their careers. Many are burnt out Hege Jørgensen is the general manager of the Toppserien. She is not surprised by the findings of the study. – It is an overriding goal to increase the average age in the Toppserien, most of all because players who sign up when they are under 23 are nowhere near reaching their maximum potential. She says that between 70 and 80 percent of the players in the Toppserien have a job or studies alongside top football. – One of the reasons why players quit is the congestion to which they are exposed. It’s about the fact that on the girls’ side you take education, often work alongside in addition to doing top sports. – Performing in three arenas is simply too much, and therefore many are burned out. TOP SERIES MANAGER: Hege Jørgensen is the general manager of the Top Series in Norway. Photo: Fredrik Hagen Must adapt the school system Jørgensen believes that the school system should better facilitate players who want to combine studies and top sports. – We have to do something about it if we are to be a sports nation that will compete internationally. It must be raised politically, she says. Compulsory attendance at the studies makes it difficult to combine with training. – This hits the girls hardest, because they are the ones who study. On the men’s side, one has almost a reverse problem, where too few take education or have parallel careers.
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