Aspire Female Athlete Health

Use a practical referral pathway when low energy availability signs start clustering.

Coaches and parents do not need to diagnose RED-S. They do need to recognize when warning signs have crossed the line into referral territory.

When to act

Do not wait for confirmed diagnosis before changing the response

Missed periods, repeated bone stress problems, or major fatigue with performance decline are enough to escalate. Use the referral chain inside a school for who to tell, and in what order.

If the athlete is cutting intake, panicking around food, or showing compulsive exercise patterns, the threshold gets even lower.

The earlier referral path protects both health and the season.

What to say

Use direct, calm language about concern and next steps

Name the pattern you are seeing instead of accusing the athlete of doing something wrong.

Keep the conversation focused on health, safety, and support.

Specific concern plus a next action works better than a vague warning.

when to call
  • Warning clusterPerformance drop, menstrual changes, fatigue, and bone issues together deserve fast actionAny one sign can be missed. Several together change the urgency immediately.Recurring illness, poor recovery, dizziness, low mood, or food rigidity often belong in the same picture.RED-S becomes easier to spot when you stop waiting for one giant crisis moment.
  • Who to callThe best referral team usually includes parent, physician, sports dietitian, and mental health support when neededNo single coach or parent should try to hold the whole case alone.A clear team reduces mixed messages and missed follow-up.The athlete should hear that referral is support, not punishment.
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