You know that feeling when you’re watching your daughter on the field, court, or track, and your

heart swells with pride? She’s strong, determined, talented—everything you hoped she’d

become. You’ve spent countless hours driving to practices, washing muddy uniforms, and

cheering from the sidelines, all while juggling work deadlines and family dinners.

But lately, something feels… off.

Maybe it’s the way she drags herself to the car after practice, or how she used to bounce back

from tough workouts but now seems to carry that fatigue for days. Perhaps it’s the sudden tears

over what used to be minor setbacks, or the way she’s been “tweaking” her ankle or knee more

frequently.

You’re wondering if this is just part of the sport, part of growing up, or if there’s something more

serious happening. And as a mom who’s always looking out for everyone else’s well-being,

you’re probably questioning whether you’re overreacting or not doing enough.

Here’s what I want you to know: Your instincts are right. And teen athlete burnout is not

only real—it’s entirely preventable when you know what to look for.

Sign #1: She’s Always Tired or Sore

Remember when your daughter used to bounce out of bed the morning after a big game, ready

to tell you every detail? Now she’s moving like she’s 80 years old, complaining about tight hips,

sore shoulders, or just feeling “blah” most of the time.

You’ve probably tried the usual suspects—more sleep, better nutrition, those expensive

recovery drinks. Maybe you’ve invested in foam rollers, massage balls, or even scheduled

professional massages. But the fatigue and soreness keep coming back.

Here’s what’s really happening: When young athletes train intensively without proper

foundation work, their bodies start compensating in ways that create chronic tension and

inefficient movement patterns. That “tightness” she feels isn’t just from working hard—it’s from

working incorrectly.Traditional stretching and foam rolling only address surface tension. They don’t retrain the deep

stabilizing muscles that create lasting change or teach her body how to move with better

mechanics. It’s like trying to fix a car’s alignment issues by just rotating the tires—it might help

temporarily, but the underlying problem remains.

Your daughter’s body is incredibly adaptable, which is both a blessing and a curse. She can

push through pain and fatigue because she’s young and resilient, but those compensation

patterns she’s developing now can set her up for bigger problems down the road.

Sign #2: Loss of Motivation or Mood Swings

This one hits differently because it’s your baby girl we’re talking about. The daughter who used

to live and breathe her sport is now saying things like “I don’t care if we win” or having

meltdowns over things that never used to bother her.

Maybe she’s become more withdrawn, snapping at her little brother or giving you one-word

answers when you ask about practice. You might catch her staring at the ceiling instead of

sleeping, or notice she’s not hanging out with her teammates like she used to.

Here’s what you need to understand: Emotional burnout often shows up before physical

burnout, especially in teenage girls who are already navigating the hormonal rollercoaster of

adolescence.

The pressure to perform, fear of letting the team down, anxiety about college scholarships,

perfectionist tendencies, social dynamics with teammates—all of this creates a stress load that

her developing nervous system struggles to process.

And here’s the kicker: she’s probably not telling you the full extent of what she’s feeling. Teen

athletes learn to push through discomfort, to not “complain,” to be mentally tough. She might be

protecting you from her struggles because she sees how much you’ve invested in her sports

journey, both emotionally and financially.

The mood swings and loss of motivation aren’t character flaws or teenage drama—they’re her

nervous system waving red flags, trying to get attention before the situation becomes more

serious.

Sign #3: Frequent Minor Injuries

“I just tweaked my knee again.” “My shoulder’s acting up.” “I think I pulled something in my hip.”

Sound familiar? If your daughter is experiencing what seem like random, minor injuries that

keep cropping up, it’s not bad luck or just part of the sport. These recurring “tweaks” and strainsare actually her body’s way of saying the foundation isn’t strong enough to handle the demands

being placed on it.

Here’s the reality: Most youth sports focus on sport-specific skills and conditioning, but very

few emphasize the deep foundational strength and movement quality that prevent injury.

When a young athlete doesn’t have proper activation of their core stabilizers, glutes, and

postural muscles, other parts of her body have to overcompensate. Her IT band gets tight

because her glutes aren’t firing properly. Her shoulder gets tweaked because her entire kinetic

chain is out of alignment. Her ankle keeps getting “rolled” because her hip stability is

compromised.

Traditional sports medicine approaches often focus on treating the injury site—ice, rest, maybe

some targeted exercises. But if you don’t address the movement dysfunction that caused the

injury in the first place, it’s going to keep happening.

Think about it: if she’s 16 and already dealing with recurring minor injuries, what’s her body

going to feel like when she’s 26? 36? We’re not just talking about her athletic career—we’re

talking about her long-term quality of life.

The Holistic Approach That Keeps Her in the Game

Your daughter doesn’t need another training program or more ice baths. She needs an

approach that addresses her as a complete human being—body, mind, and spirit.

Foundation Training: Building Strength From the Inside Out

Instead of just working the “mirror muscles” or sport-specific movements, Foundation Training

teaches athletes how to integrate their entire posterior chain—the deep muscles that create true

stability and power. When your daughter learns to properly activate her glutes, engage her deep

core, and maintain optimal spinal alignment, everything else improves.

Her recovery speeds up because she’s not fighting against dysfunctional patterns. Her

performance improves because she’s accessing strength she didn’t even know she had. Most

importantly, her injury risk plummets because she’s moving the way her body was designed to

move.

This isn’t about adding more to her training schedule—it’s about making her existing training

more effective and sustainable.

AFT (Aroma Freedom Technique): Releasing What’s Holding Her BackHere’s something most sports psychologists won’t tell you: emotional blocks and limiting beliefs

get stored in the body. That fear of reinjuring her ankle? It’s creating tension patterns that

actually make reinjury more likely. The pressure she feels to be perfect? It’s literally tightening

her muscles and limiting her range of motion.

AFT uses the power of scent and gentle techniques to help release these emotional blocks

before they become mental burnout. When your daughter can let go of the fear, pressure, and

perfectionism she’s carrying, her body can relax and perform at its true potential.

This isn’t “just” emotional work—it’s performance enhancement that happens to also support her

mental health.

A Support System That Gets It

Your daughter needs practitioners who understand the unique pressures facing young female

athletes. She needs someone who won’t just tell her to “push through” or “be mentally tough,”

but who will help her build genuine resilience from the inside out.

She needs an approach that honors her competitive spirit while teaching her that true strength

includes knowing when to rest, when to ask for help, and how to listen to her body’s wisdom.

Your Mama Bear Instincts Are Right

You know your daughter better than anyone. When you sense something’s off, when you see

changes in her energy or attitude, when you notice patterns that concern you—trust those

instincts.

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t have to happen at all. The earlier you

intervene with the right support, the more likely she is to not just avoid burnout, but to actually

thrive in her sport and beyond.

You’re not being overprotective by wanting to address these issues. You’re being proactive

about your daughter’s long-term health and happiness. You’re teaching her that her worth isn’t

tied to her performance, that her body deserves care and respect, and that asking for help is a

sign of wisdom, not weakness.

The investment you make in her holistic health now will pay dividends for the rest of her

life.

Ready to Help Your Daughter Thrive Instead of Just

Survive?If you’re seeing any of these signs in your athletic teen, know that you don’t have to figure this

out alone. Burnout is preventable, and with the right support, your daughter can not only avoid it

but actually strengthen her foundation for long-term athletic success and life-long health.

Book a Mother-Daughter Movement Consultation where we’ll assess her movement

patterns, identify areas of concern, and create a plan that works with her training schedule, not

against it. This isn’t about taking time away from her sport—it’s about making her time in sport

more effective and sustainable.

Schedule an AFT Session to help her release any emotional blocks or limiting beliefs that

might be holding her back. Many young athletes are amazed by how much lighter and more

confident they feel after addressing the mental and emotional aspects of their performance.

Join the Forever 29 Community where you’ll connect with other sports moms who understand

exactly what you’re going through. Share resources, celebrate victories, and get support during

the challenging times from women who truly get it.

Remember: Your daughter’s athletic journey should enhance her life, not consume it. With the

right foundation and support, she can pursue her athletic dreams while building habits and skills

that will serve her long after her competitive days are over.

Because the goal isn’t just to keep her in the game—it’s to help her love the game, love

her body, and love herself for years to come.

Trust your instincts, mama. Your daughter’s health and happiness are worth the investment.