Rise, Return, Recover
The Vital Role of Emotional Support & Mentorship After ACL and Other Injuries in Women’s Soccer
An ACL tear or another long term injury can feel like the end of the road—not just physically, but emotionally. For many female soccer players, injury means a sudden loss of identity, isolation, and fear. Yet with the right support network—and in particular empathetic mentorship—injured players often find a path back, stronger in body and mind. Female Footballers’ new program Rise and Return is one of the promising efforts in this space.
A focus on ACL Injuries in Female Soccer Players
Female soccer players have a 2- to 6‑times higher risk of ACL injuries compared to male players in similar sports, especially cutting, jumping, change‑of‑direction movements. In high school in the US, year‑round female athletes playing soccer or basketball have about a 5% chance each year of tearing an ACL. Over multiple years, that risk accumulates significantly. After ACL reconstruction (ACLR), female players face elevated risks of re‑injury (either the same knee or the other), as well as higher risk of other knee injuries (e.g. meniscus, cartilage damage).
Return to Play & Dropping Out
Many studies show that though a good proportion of elite players do return to play after ACLR, their performance often drops: reduced minutes, starts, or fewer games occur. A longitudinal study (female soccer players with ACLR vs healthy controls) found that within two years: “During the 2‑year follow‑up, 72 (62%) players with ACL reconstruction quit soccer, as opposed to 43 (36%) controls.” Another study showed that among players who did return, a significant fraction reinjured their ACL (almost 30% in some follow‑ups) or injured the opposite knee.
The Psychological Toll of Injury: Isolation, Fear, Identity Loss
Physical healing is only one part of recovery. Injured athletes often face:
Isolation — being cut off from teammates, training routines, being on the sidelines during games. They see the team, but can no longer “be in it.”
Loss of identity — many elite or competitive players see their sport as central to who they are; injury can disrupt that sense of self.
Fear of re‑injury — moving again, cutting, landing can all come with anxiety and hesitation, which itself can hinder movement quality and increase risk.
Doubts and decreased confidence — about their body, their level, whether they can ever get back.
Mental health challenges — depression, anxiety, loss of motivation are not uncommon.
Sometimes players don’t believe they will return to the same level, and this belief often correlates with whether they do. One study found that age and level of play influence beliefs about return‑to‑play; those at higher levels are more likely to both believe in and actually make a strong return.
Mentorship: More than Just Physical Support
This is where mentorship and emotional support become essential.
Mentorship can help in several ways:
Providing someone who’s been through a similar injury to share stories, reassurance, practical advice.
Normalizing the emotional rollercoaster — that feeling of being “outside” the game is common, not a sign of weakness.
Supporting setting realistic but ambitious goals, both short‑term and long‑term.
Accountability and encouragement: helping maintain rehab plans, stay mentally engaged, avoid isolation.
Helping with mindset shifts: from fear to resilience; focusing on what can be controlled.
There is evidence in sports psychology that returning to high‑level performance after a major injury depends heavily not just on physical rehabilitation, but psychological readiness: self‑efficacy, confidence in the repaired body, reduced fear, the belief that one can return and perform. While quantitative studies are fewer in number in women’s soccer specifically, across athletics the correlations are strong.
Spotlight: Rise and Return by Female Footballers
Recognizing this gap, Female Footballers has launched Rise and Return, “an emotional support mentorship program for the injured athlete.”
What it offers:
One‑on‑one mentor pairing with current or former pro/collegiate players for emotional support through injury.
A space where athletes can talk about the non‑physical effects of injury: isolation, fear, lost confidence.
Guidance on mindset, resilience, goal setting, likely tailored to the female athlete experience.
Why this matters:
Because many female players are surrounded by high expectations but less infrastructure for mental health and emotional care in injury rehab.
Because injury breaks routines, removes you from the community. Mentorship helps restore connection.
Because belief in return and emotional resilience are predictors of successful comeback. Rise and Return fills a need many programs overlook.
Conclusion
ACL injuries are an unfortunate reality in female soccer. The physical road to recovery is long, but without emotional, psychological, and social support, many athletes lose not just games but their love for the sport, their confidence, or even quit entirely. Programs like Rise and Return show that we can do better — that recovery is not just about bones and ligaments, but the heart and mind. For every player sidelined, a mentor, a listening ear, a belief that “you will return” can make all the difference.
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