On a football pitch in the Netherlands, 15-year-old Esmee Stuut dashes between cones, her movements tracked on camera. The FC Groningen striker is part of a pioneering study into ACL injuries—serious setbacks that disproportionately affect teenage girls.
“A lot of girls my age have had this injury,” Esmee says. “I’m happy to help.”
The study, led by sports scientist Anne Benjaminse and supported by UEFA and the Dutch FA, targets girls aged 12 to 21. It explores not just physical training but also mental health, with participants logging weekly mood and stress levels to identify links between emotional strain and injury risk.
“Girls are four to eight times more likely than boys to suffer ACL injuries during puberty,” says Benjaminse. “Physical changes and stress—from school to family issues—can increase vulnerability.”
With 175,000 registered female players in a nation of 17 million, Dutch women’s football is booming. But coaches like Henderika Kingma know the risks: “Two of my players tore their ACLs last season. We have to protect our young players.”
As Esmee trains with intense direction changes designed to prevent injury, Benjaminse hopes clubs will eventually treat mental wellbeing as essential as fitness and nutrition.
Still, she admits, “Sometimes, it’s just bad luck.”
