For women’s soccer players, mental health often overlooked [column] (2024)

For most of my life, soccer centered me. It provided me joy, purpose and a deep sense of belonging.

For many young players, the game represents more than just a sport; it serves as a lifeline. Unfortunately, my lifeline snapped in high school, when I sprained my ankle.

Determined not to let the injury keep me from soccer, I pushed myself to return, but I returned too early. What should have taken two weeks to 12 weeks to heal took more than two years.

My desperation to play was not unique to me. Youth sports can be enormously beneficial to physical and mental health. Sports participation can promote physical well-being and teach lifelong skills of leadership, sportsmanship and teamwork.

But young soccer players, especially girls and women, can also feel enormous pressure to perform in a still male-dominated sport. To prevent other cases like mine, we need greater awareness of the role mental health plays in injury recovery.

Injuries are not uncommon in youth soccer. Participating in any sport carries inherent risks, especially for players passionately dedicated to their game. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, adolescent soccer players experience up to 15.3 injuries per 1,000 hours of play: “Youth soccer has a greater reported injury rate than many other contact sports, and recent studies suggest that injury rates are increasing. Large increases in the incidence of concussions in youth soccer have been reported, and anterior cruciate ligament injuries remain a significant problem in this sport, particularly among female athletes.”

Exacerbating the physical injury risk is the pressure to shrug off the pain. As former U.S. national star Briana Scurry recounted to the sports website Bleacher Report, the worst thing about serious injuries is the silence that surrounds them, preventing players from openly acknowledging their suffering.

The mental health component of sports injuries can be especially difficult for female high school athletes engaging in competitive sports. High school is already a challenging time, particularly for girls navigating societal expectations reinforced by social media.

The statistics are heart-wrenching: A study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated, “Nearly 60% of teenage girls reported feeling persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2021, compared to just under 30% of their male counterparts.”

According to Debra Houry, chief medical officer at the CDC, “America’s teen girls are engulfed in a growing wave of sadness, violence, and trauma.”

A 2023 article on the Boston Children’s Hospital website states that unique stressors on female athletes include unequal access to sports opportunities, facilities and equipment; objectification and trivialization of female athletes; sexual harassment and violence; body image concerns; and pressure to maintain an unhealthy weight. These factors are often overlooked in the pursuit of physical prowess. Young female athletes work tirelessly to impress others, leading their internal struggles to go unnoticed. When injuries occur, their world crumbles, taking an emotional toll that’s in addition to the physical pain.

Athletes unable to participate in their sport often experience psychological distress, increasing their anxiety during recovery. Recent studies show that a staggering number of injured athletes can experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. This leads players to return to the game even when they are not fully recovered. Young female players, especially, tend to be self-critical and push themselves past their limit.

The mental health of young female soccer players is a crucial, yet overlooked, aspect of the sport. Sports can contribute significantly to young female athletes’ identity and joy, providing valuable skills and support for vulnerable teens.

As we navigate the physical and mental challenges of soccer, or any sport, we must embrace vulnerability rather than silence it. Social support from friends and teammates is vital during the difficult times of recovery.

Fostering open conversations within the sport and providing a supportive environment can help send the message that mental health is as important as physical recovery from injuries. That way, hopefully, fewer players will endure what I did.

Sarahi Hurtado is a first-year student at Franklin & Marshall College.

GET HELP

This column mentions anxiety and mental health issues. If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, contact the following organizations:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
• Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline via TTY at 800-799-4889.
• Lancaster Crisis Intervention, 717-394-2631.
• If you are LGBTQ+: thetrevorproject.org/get-help.