Susanne Maria Sammer Susanne Maria Sammer University of Krems Press 2026 Performance in esports relies on precision, speed, strategy, and endurance – all requiring high physical and mental balance. While male hormonal cycles are relatively stable, female players experience continuous fluctuations affecting energy, focus, mood, and recovery. This variability is often misunderstood as inconsistency, but it is in fact a superpower that can optimize gameplay, communication, and overall performance. Awareness of the cycle allows female gamers to create a more stable and sustainable performance curve, transforming perceived limitations into strategic advantages. [Elorduy-Terrado et al., 2025] The female cycle can be imagined as a dynamic performance framework, like a game that constantly restarts with shifting levels, modes, and challenges. Each phase offers unique resources, comparable to switching between teamplay and single-player modes. Some phases enhance collaboration, communication, and high-energy teamwork; others favor reflection, strategy planning, and solo-focused performance. Cycle awareness allows players to align training, practice, and competitive play with natural physiological rhythms, improving consistency while maintaining health. [Schlie et al., 2025] PDFDocument eng 2026-02-24T09:32:02.689359Z 2026-02-26 Women’s Health Esports Cycle Awareness Teamplay Performance Gaming Balance 345474 b application/pdf http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/