COACHING THE FEMALE ATHLETE How to Develop David Sunderland

DIFFERENCES vis-à-vis MEN Earlier Development Stages Earlier Development Stages More flexible More flexible Strength Strength Work Capacity Work Capacity Mental Capacity Mental Capacity Emotional Emotional Work Loads Work Loads The Female Triad The Female Triad

Borrowed from Carmen Quatman Borrowed from Carmen Quatman

Age (years) (Adapted from Tanner, 1978 & Kahn, 1999) Relative increase per year Females Males PEAK HEIGHT VELOCITY & PEAK BONE MASS GROWTH Height Bone Mass

THE FEMALE TRIAD The Harmful Effects of excessive energy deficits on Women’s:- The Harmful Effects of excessive energy deficits on Women’s:- Reproductive System Reproductive System Skeletal Health Skeletal Health Occur in Men but diet and exercise behaviours more common in Women Occur in Men but diet and exercise behaviours more common in Women

Goal: every female’s physical condition to be at upper right end of spectrum Goal: every female’s physical condition to be at upper right end of spectrum

MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN DISORDERED EATING DISORDERED EATING AMENORRHEA AMENORRHEA BONE DENSITY/OSTEOPOROSIS BONE DENSITY/OSTEOPOROSIS SHOULD WE GIVE THEM DIFFERENT WORK LOADS TO MEN SHOULD WE GIVE THEM DIFFERENT WORK LOADS TO MEN

DISORDERED EATING How do we recognize it? How do we recognize it? How do we monitor it? How do we monitor it? How do we approach it? How do we approach it? How do we get them to recognize it? How do we get them to recognize it? How do we include parents? How do we include parents? How do we get a get a culture of Fuelling Performance/Eating to Win v Eating disorders? How do we get a get a culture of Fuelling Performance/Eating to Win v Eating disorders?

AMENORRHEA How do we recognize it? – Male Coach How do we recognize it? – Male Coach How are we made aware? – Male Coach How are we made aware? – Male Coach How can we prevent it? How can we prevent it? Delicate Situation how is it resolved? Delicate Situation how is it resolved? What are the solutions? What are the solutions?

BONE DENSITY/HEALTHY BONES Osteoporosis how do we prevent it? Osteoporosis how do we prevent it? How do we recognize it? How do we recognize it? What are the causes? What are the causes? What are the links with Amenorrhea and Disordered eating? What are the links with Amenorrhea and Disordered eating?

Identify “at risk” individuals and intervene Identify “at risk” individuals and intervene The Risk StrategyHow? Extended knee Flexed knee Soft landing Extended hip Flexed hip Soft landing Knee valgus Minimize valgus Control landing, strengthen hip Abd & IR Loss of balance Improve balance Dynamic balance training Lateral trunk lean Neutral trunk Core stability training and landing posture Garret & Griffin, 2006

DIAGNOSIS CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BY ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT:- CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BY ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT:- EATING DISORDERS EATING DISORDERS MENSTRUAL CYCLES MENSTRUAL CYCLES EXERCISE HABITS EXERCISE HABITS

WORKSHOP A - OSTEPOROSIS A - OSTEPOROSIS B - DISORDERED EATING B - DISORDERED EATING C - AMENORRHEA C - AMENORRHEA D - TRAINING LOADS D - TRAINING LOADS HOW DO WE PREVENT, RECOGNISE AND TREAT THE PROBLEM? HOW DO WE PREVENT, RECOGNISE AND TREAT THE PROBLEM? AGE RELATED? AGE RELATED? Who do we involve? Who do we involve?

RECOMMENDATION PRIORITIES PREVENTION PREVENTION RECOGNITION RECOGNITION TREATMENT TREATMENT INCREASE ENERGY AVAILABILITY INCREASE ENERGY AVAILABILITY