#050 ACL injuries in female youth players - The surgeon's perspective with Miss Morgan Bailey

🎙️ “ACL Injuries in Female Youth Players” – with Miss Morgan Bailey 🗣️ Hosted by Carolyn Kent and student co-host Lotte Black

🔹 Episode Summary:

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, we’re joined by Miss Morgan Bailey – a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon and chair of the Women’s ACL Orthopaedic Steering Group. Together with co-host and strength coach Lotte Black, we dive deep into one of the most talked-about topics in women’s football: ACL injuries in female youth players.

From surgery to prevention, to practical coaching solutions – this episode is packed with evidence-based insights and powerful perspectives on protecting young athletes.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

⚠️ Why ACL injuries in youth players are rising

• 20x increase in adolescent ACL injuries over the past 20 years

• Specialisation, overtraining, and underprepared support systems

🧬 The female factor: Sex-based vs. gender-based injury risks

• Hormonal changes, alignment, and menstrual cycle impacts

• Gender inequality in kit design, pitches, coaching, and care access

💥 What coaches NEED to know about injury prevention

• Neuromuscular warm-ups reduce injuries by up to 70%

• Why plyometrics are the most overlooked warm-up component

🛠️ Surgical decision-making in young players

• Growth plate concerns and graft choices

• When surgery is necessary—and when it's not

• Long-term implications for young athletes' knee health and careers

🧠 The psychology behind teenage rehab

• Managing expectations for return to play

• Supporting autonomy in adolescent decision-making

• Importance of physio and peer support

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• 💪 Power Up to Play – www.poweruptoplay.org

🎧 Listen Now:

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms. 🔗 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the episode!