The Risks of Sport Dropout for Youth Female Volleyball Athletes
Youth female volleyball athletes face unique and significant risks for dropping out of sport. These risks are shaped by injury patterns, body image pressures, and social factors that differ markedly from those experienced by their male counterparts. Understanding these challenges is crucial for coaches, parents, and organizations aiming to keep girls engaged and thriving in their spot, now and in the future.
Injury Rates and Types
Volleyball is associated with a high incidence of injuries among adolescent athletes, with female players particularly affected. The most common injuries are sprains, strains, and fractures, especially of the lower extremities, which account for over 40% of volleyball-related injuries in both boys and girls [3]. Overuse injuries are especially prevalent among highly specialized female players who participate in volleyball for more than 16 hours per week or more than eight months per year [2].
Specialization — focusing on volleyball to the exclusion of other sports—significantly increases the risk of these injuries. While most volleyball injuries are not severe enough to require hospitalization, their frequency can disrupt participation and contribute to burnout and dropout [3][2].
Body Image Pressures
Body image concerns are a leading factor in sport dropout among adolescent girls, including volleyball players [5][6]. The pressure to conform to certain body types—often exacerbated by the tight uniforms worn in volleyball—can make girls feel self-conscious or inadequate, even if they are talented athletes [4][5]. This is compounded by a culture of "body talk," weight-related comments from coaches, peers, and family, and the constant comparison to others. Research shows that negative body-related emotions such as guilt, shame, and embarrassment increase over time for girls in sport, while positive emotions like pride decrease, directly correlating with reduced enjoyment, increased anxiety, and higher dropout rates [6].
How These Risks Differ from Male Counterparts
Girls are more than three times as likely to drop out of sport during adolescence compared to boys. By late adolescence, one in three girls leaves sport, compared to just one in ten boys[7]. While both sexes experience injuries, the social and psychological pressures—especially around body image and societal expectations—are far more pronounced for girls. Boys are less likely to report body image as a reason for quitting and tend to have higher self-esteem and confidence in sport settings [5][6]. Additionally, girls face stronger societal messages that athleticism is not feminine, and they are more likely to experience exclusion, bullying, or pressure to prioritize appearance over performance [1][5].
Solutions to Reduce Dropout Among Female Volleyball Athletes
Promote Positive Body Image
- Celebrate all body types and challenge harmful beauty standards.
- Provide comfortable and inclusive uniforms to reduce body-consciousness[1][5].
- Educate coaches and parents about the impact of body talk and appearance-based comments[6].
- When working with healthcare providers, find someone who is very intentional about the words they use. When in doubt, just ask! Most practitioners will be happy to have a conversation with you prior to working together so that you can see if they seem like a positive fit for your daughter.
Encourage Balanced Participation
- Discourage early specialization and promote multi-sport participation to reduce overuse injuries and burnout [2].
- Monitor training loads and ensure adequate rest and recovery [2][3].
- The definition of balance depends on the athlete, so it can be very supportive to have a Physical Therapist who is well versed in female athlete development to assess your daughter and help make recommendations.
Increase Female Mentorship and Role Models
- Hire more female coaches and showcase successful women in volleyball to inspire young athletes [1].
- Facilitate mentorship opportunities for girls to connect with older female athletes [1].
- This is one thing we are passionate about and the reason for creating the empow(HER) programs - she deserves to be empowered with information and supported by women who have been where she was and can set a positive example.
Empower Girls’ Voices
- Involve girls in decision-making about their sport experience.
- Encourage open communication about their needs, concerns, and goals [1]. This is easier said than done - she needs to learn how to internally assess what is happening, what she needs and how to communicate that information effectively. This is something we can help with.
Educate Parents and Coaches
- Provide training on recognizing the signs of burnout, injury risk, and body image struggles.
- Encourage positive reinforcement and balanced involvement, avoiding excessive pressure [2][6].
Conclusion
The high dropout rate among youth female volleyball athletes is a complex issue rooted in injury risk, body image pressures, and societal expectations. We also know that girls who give up their sport are very unlikely to be physically active as adults. By addressing these challenges through positive body image promotion, inclusive team cultures, balanced training, and strong female mentorship, we can help more girls stay in the game — reaping the lifelong benefits of sport participation [1][5][6]. They deserve it.
About the author: Kristin Bignell is a Registered Physiotherapist and the Owner of East Mill Physio in Elora, ON and empow(HER) Volleyball. She has a special interest in Neurofunctional Acupuncture, Sports Performance and Female Athlete Development. She enjoys pushing the boundaries of what we traditionally believe to be possible with respect to injury rehabilitation and performance optimization by using a holistic treatment style. Kristin trained in Neurofunctional Acupuncture and Neurofunctional Sports Performance at The Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program through McMaster University and is currently completing her second year of training to become an Instructor in the Acupuncture Program. The information presented in this article is her interpretation of what she has learned to date. To learn more about East Mill Physio, visit www.eastmillphysio.ca.
References:
[1] https://www.volleyballwinnipeg.ca/news_article/show/1324742
[2] https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/19425864-20180830-01
[7] https://womenandsport.ca/canadian-girls-dropping-out-of-sport/
[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36730298/
[9] https://sirc.ca/articles/the-unspoken-battle-how-body-image-shapes-sport-performance/
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