According to reporting in the New York Times Magazine, young female athletes are 3 to 6 times more likely than boys to tear their ACLs. 

And the recovery period can be grueling. Surgery is usually involved, rehab can take a year or longer. Which is a lot of time, at that age, for players to remain on the sideline. But there are effective ways to prevent so many ACL tears. For example, FIFA, soccer’s governing body, has signed off on a series of exercises and warmups that have proven to reduce injury risk.

Yet that injury prevention protocol hasn’t taken off in girls sports. Even though women’s sports are exploding in popularity, and more girls are playing sports, plenty of coaches and players don’t even know it’s possible to prevent these injuries. 

Why do so many teenage girl athletes tear their ACLs? And why do coaches, parents and players often fail to do the prevention work, strength exercises, etc. that might help protect vulnerable limbs?

Guest:
Seattle high schooler and soccer player Edie Welch
Reporter Craig Welch

Related stories:
Why Are So Many Teen Girls Still Tearing Their A.C.L.s? - The New York Times Magazine

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes-

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/magazine/acl-tear-women-girl-sports.html">reporting</a> in the New York Times Magazine, young female athletes are 3 to 6 times more likely than boys to tear their ACLs.&nbsp;
And the recovery period can be grueling. Surgery is usually involved, rehab can take a year or longer. Which is a lot of time, at that age, for players to remain on the sideline. But there are effective ways to prevent so many ACL tears. For example, FIFA, soccer&rsquo;s governing body, has signed off on a series of exercises and warmups that have proven to reduce injury risk.
Yet that injury prevention protocol hasn&rsquo;t taken off in girls sports. Even though women&rsquo;s sports are exploding in popularity, and more girls are playing sports, plenty of coaches and players don&rsquo;t even know it&rsquo;s possible to prevent these injuries.&nbsp;
Why do so many teenage girl athletes tear their ACLs? And why do coaches, parents and players often fail to do the prevention work, strength exercises, etc. that might help protect vulnerable limbs?
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Seattle high schooler and soccer player Edie Welch</li>
<li>Reporter Craig Welch</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/magazine/acl-tear-women-girl-sports.html">Why Are So Many Teen Girls Still Tearing Their A.C.L.s? - The New York Times Magazine</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>-
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Why do so many teenage girl athletes tear their ACLs? And why do coaches, parents and players often fail to do the prevention work, strength exercises, etc. that might help protect vulnerable limbs?