I bolted into my mom’s bedroom crying. I was 13 years old, first experiencing the volatility that is being a teenager. I also faced my first encounter with a mean girl. My teammate Emily and I were having a conversation on AOL instant messenger, which was...
I went to the emergency room in 2018. I had insomnia, two faint spells in a week, and chest tightness that lasted for days. From the outside, I was a healthy woman in her 20s. I strength trained and nourished my body. I spent time outside....
"Hand a girl a barbell and change her life." - Emily Neff, Female Athlete Performance Coach I couldn't agree with my colleague more. All female athletes must strength train. It's non-negotiable. Not only does strength training improve performance, it also decreases chance of ACL injury by 50%. Strength...
"Just go on TikTok...
In 11 years of coaching young female soccer players, I continue to be flabbergasted by how many messages I get from parents about their daughters' overuse injuries. It sucks. It's bad. I'm tired. "Our daughter has had knee pain for several months," say several concerned parents. "Our daughter has a...
Stop training speed with the just soccer ball. I love posting statements like this on social media because enraged people come out of the woodwork, without looking into its context and the actual programming of the coach. Just look, this caused a cacophony of responses: "You're not taking...
Home gyms exploded during COVID. In the first month of lock down, you would be hard pressed to find gym equipment left to buy on Amazon. Everyone was snagging their dumbbells, pull-up bars, resistance bands, and for the more serious lifters, full blown squat racks. There...
A missed period is not a badge of honor. It's a red flag. Full disclosure: I've received several messages from female athletes about missed periods, and their lack of education is alarming. Of course, it's not their fault, as professionals aren't being transparent. Their doctors aren't providing...
Growing up as a young female athlete can be a remarkable and exciting experience. Nothing is more empowering than competing, overcoming challenge, being a part of a team, training toward a goal, working toward a greater purpose, and experiencing the lasting memories of sport. From team...
The self care and self love cult is ruining young girls. The Deception and Destruction of Self Love In my early 20s, I pursued self love. I put my needs first. I practiced self care. I figured that if I could just dig up the gold inside...