Training adolescent female athletes: Supports, barriers and practical coaching considerations

The disparity in provision, access and continuation in sport between males and females is evident

from childhood. Females undergo significant physical and psychological changes during puberty,

which can affect both physical performance and engagement in sports. Strength and conditioning

(S&C) coaches have a key role to play in ensuring adolescent female athletes are being supported

to thrive in sports, at all levels. The S&C coach should consider the physiological development of

the athlete, the environmental factors and how their coaching delivery may be used as a vehicle to

ensure the continuation, and indeed success, of female adolescent athletes in sport. This review

article presents reflective questions to aid coaching delivery and a coaching framework which

considers wider holistic factors that may be important for the successful coaching of adolescent

female athletes.