ACL Prevention: Protecting Female Athletes
ACL tears are one of the most common (and frustrating) injuries in women’s sports. What makes this especially important for our community, is that female athletes are two to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than their male counterparts.
For athletes, that higher risk can mean missed seasons, setbacks in development, and even long-term effects on confidence and mental health. For coaches, it means losing players at crucial times and seeing potential cut short by preventable injuries. The encouraging news: ACL tears aren’t inevitable. With the right training and awareness, prevention is possible.
We aren’t doctors or medical researchers at WLD, but we do care deeply about the well-being of our community and their athletes. That’s why we want to highlight some of the incredible organizations leading the way in ACL prevention and share their resources with you.
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Take the ACL Pledge
ACL Pledge - Project Play from the Aspen Institute
ACL injuries in youth athletes are rising fast, even though research shows that consistent neuromuscular training (NMT) - things like balance, landing mechanics, and strength exercises can dramatically lower the risk. The challenge is that many teams and programs don’t include NMT in their regular training. That’s where the ACL Pledge comes in.
The campaign calls on coaches, parents, athletes, and sports leaders to step up by:
Learning more about the ACL injury crisis and proven solutions
Spreading awareness in their communities
Making neuromuscular training a regular part of practices and warm-ups
Taking the pledge is simple: sign here, choose at least one action to support safer play, and share your commitment using #ACLpledge. The idea is simple but powerful. The more people who join in, the more likely prevention becomes part of everyday sports culture.
Download the images below and post them on your socials! Let your network know that you took the #ACLPledge
Women’s Sports Foundation
Founded by Billie Jean King, the Women’s Sports Foundation offers outstanding information on the latest research and resources on women’s health in sports. Their Her Life Depends on It report breaks down why ACL injuries affect women at higher rates and what can be done to reduce risk. It’s a part of a series, so there’s plenty more where that came from! Read their knee injury brief here.
They find that “female athletes are considered an at-risk population for ACL injury. In fact, they have a significantly higher injury rate than male athletes and the general population.” In this report they outline Calls to Action (page 66) for what we all can do to help prevent this injury in our athletes.
STOP Sports Injuries - American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
Backed by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the STOP Sports Injuries initiative provides science-driven guidance on ACL prevention and other common sports injuries. It’s an excellent go-to resource for both athletes and coaches. Check it out here.
Their recent feature What She’s Up Against: The Hidden Challenges Facing Female Youth Athletes takes a closer look at the unique risks and pressures young women face in sports. Written by doctors and surgeons, it offers an inside view on why prevention and proper support are so important early on. Read the article here.
LaxFit - US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse created a free ACL prevention program called LaxFit for all US Lacrosse Members. While built with lacrosse in mind, it’s useful for athletes in any sport. The exercises are designed to fit easily into warm-ups, targeting balance, stability, and strength.
From the Aspen Institute - article can be found here
From the British Journal of Sports Medicine - article can be found here
