Hi Reader,
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I’ve been passionate about understanding the experiences of girls and women since my undergrad days at St. Kate’s, where I took my first women’s studies course. Little did I know that a decade later, I’d be racing bikes in a sport with only 5-15% women—or that I’d eventually become a sport psychologist specializing in female athletes.
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When you combine all of these interests and experiences, I get really excited to talk about this work. Because here’s what I see all the time in my work with athletes: A teen girl who absolutely dominates on the trail, bike, or field. She’s got the skills. She’s got the fitness. She shows up to every practice. But something shifts.
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Maybe she starts holding back on features she used to clear without hesitation. Maybe she stops wearing her team jersey to school. Maybe she just… quietly fades from the sport.
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Here’s what the research keeps showing us:
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​The #1 reason teen girls quit sports has nothing to do with skill, fitness, or fear of crashing. It’s belonging.
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​By age 14, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys. Research shows this isn’t about physical capability or fear of injury—it’s about the psychosocial environment. Studies consistently find that girls cite lack of belonging, feeling judged, and concerns regarding appearance as primary reasons for leaving sport.

The Real Obstacles

Teen girls aren’t navigating just the physical demands of sport. They’re navigating questions boys rarely face:
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​🤔”Am I allowed to be both strong AND feminine?”
🤔”What if I fail in front of everyone and prove them right?”
🤔”Why does my approach to this sport seem less valuable?”
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​Think about the girl who crushes it in practice but won’t attempt that same move when teammates are watching. She’s not scared of the feature. She’s scared of being judged as incompetent if she doesn’t make it on the first attempt. There’s a massive difference.
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So, what do we do? I have #somanythoughts!
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Pay attention to:

• how often you give specific, skill-based praise (“Great line choice through that corner”) vs. generic praise (“Good job”)
• whether you’re celebrating only successful attempts or also smart decision-making
• whether you’re using fear-based motivation or process-focused support

Your words shape whether girls feel like they belong in their sport. And belonging is what keeps them there. So we HAVE to let them know they’re valued for WHO they are—not what they can do or how they compare to others.
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​Want the full breakdown? I wrote a nice hefty guide on the 5 coaching shifts that keep teen girls engaged in sport, including the hard conversations you need to be ready for.

Note that the examples here are about mountain biking, but these same dynamics show up in running, swimming, team sports—anywhere teen girls are navigating their athletic identity during peak social pressure to be feminine.
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If you’re working with teen athletes (or you ARE a teen athlete), this matters. Every girl who stays in sport learns something that goes far beyond athletic skills:

✨ She is capable of taking on hard things
✨ She can assess and manage risk intelligently
✨ She belongs in spaces that weren’t originally designed for her
✨ She doesn’t have to choose between being an athlete and being herself

🎙️This week on Feisty Women’s Performance Podcast…

We welcome Eden Morris to discuss the culture around athletes and its impact on eating disorders. Discover how athletes can embrace intuitive eating tailored to their unique needs.

​🎧Listen on Apple Podcast​
​🎧Listen on Spotify​

Til next week,
Dr. A
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