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Intuitive movement is the practice of listening to your body and acting in line with its needs in that moment of movement. An example: adjusting the level of intensity based on how fatigued you feel. Other examples may include:
Allowing athletes to rest if they feel tired, thirsty or sluggish.
Allowing athletes to adjust their training (if needed) when they are on their period/menstruating.
Encouraging athletes to take time off from training when they are sick or injured.
Encouraging athletes to take a break from sport for mental health or other personal reasons.
De-normalizing training past the point of exhaustion.
Allowing athletes to choose a different size or style of uniform if they feel uncomfortable.
Normalizing sports bras as a standard piece of equipment, similar to shin guards or socks.
Making enjoyment and fun the focus of practice, rather than always performance and achievement.
Encouraging athletes to eat when they feel hungry.
Encouraging athletes to eat foods they like and that make them feel good.
Creating space for athletes to check in with their bodies’ needs before, during and after practice.
For more strategies on how to support girls’ unique needs in sport, visit CoachingHER.com.
When athletes do not listen to their bodies, they may:
Perform poorly.
Become sick and/or injured.
Have worsened mental health (e.g., burnout, anxiety, depression).
Dislike and/or disengage from sport and movement.
Perform poorly in other aspects of their lives (e.g., spending less time with friends, perform worse at school).
When athletes listen to their bodies, they are more likely to:
Be aware of and/or prevent sickness and/or injury.
Focus on playing the sport, rather than attending to sickness/injuries.
Enjoy themselves.
Become role models to other teammates.
Have better physical and mental well-being.
Athletes should not be punished for listening to what their bodies need, whether through being judged by the coach and their peers or by losing their position on the team.
