Supporting Female Athletes: what every coach should know about the Female Athlete Triad

Dame Kelly Holmes hosted a conference for coaches on the Female Athlete Triad in partnership with England Athletics and supported by ‘On Camp with Kelly’ at Loughborough University on Saturday 16 May.  The conference was attended by 80 coaches from various sports, including coaches from Malta and Sweden, and was a great success.

After an introduction from England Athletics Chief Executive Mike Summers, Dame Kelly gave a short presentation about the importance of coaches being aware of issues relating to the Female Athlete Triad and how she has seen it affect athletes during her career and in her work as a mentor.

Delegates then heard the following presentations:

• An Introduction to the Female Athlete Triad - Professor Anne Loucks, an American academic who is a world leading expert on the Female Athlete Triad (by video)
• Menstrual Function and Disorders - Mr Michael Dooley, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
• Healthy Bones and Osteoporosis - Dr Noel Pollock, UKA London Medical Officer
• Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders among Athletes - Dr Caroline Meyer, Director of the Loughborough University Centre for Research into Eating Disorders
• Athlete Case Study - Dr Paul Goozee, General Practitioner

Delegates also took part in two of the following workshops:

• Fuelling Performance and Eating to Win – led by Bethanie Allanson, EIS nutritionist
• Medical Matters: help athletes stay healthy and injury free – led by medical experts Dr Leon Creaney, Mr Michael Dooley, Dr Paul Goozee & Dr Noel Pollock
• Role of the Coach in recognising and preventing the Female Athlete Triad – led by Gwenda Ward & Bud Baldaro
• Signs and Symptoms of Disordered Eating – led by Dr Caroline Meyer