How to Coach Young Athletes: What Coaches Should Know About Body Image, Fueling, and Periods

In the second episode of our three-part series on coaching young athletes, Sara Gross and guest co-host Jill Colangelo turn the spotlight to the coaches who work with young female athletes through topics like body image, menstruation, and proper fueling. As awareness grows about the impact of body image on performance, coaches—both male and female coaches—must learn to navigate these conversations effectively.

Guest Jason Russo, a veteran high school cross-country coach, shares his experience in fostering open communication, involving parents and experts to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

Sara and Jill also share their own personal experiences and anecdotes surrounding the female aesthetic myth, particularly the harmful notion that being “skinny” equates to being a better athlete.

This episode calls on coaches, parents, and athletes to prioritize health, well-being, and open dialogue as key pillars of athletic development.

Feisty Strong Retreat in Atlanta - April 17-19, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-strong-retreat-atlanta/

Visit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcasts

Sign up to Receive The Feisty 40+ Newsletter:

https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-40/

Keep up to date on all women's sports:

https://feisty.co/newsletters/the-feist/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feisty_womens_performance

Support our Partners:

Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first order