Dear coach, next time you’re pushing a girl athlete hard and she seems distracted, weak, or emotional — pause. Think. Ask. Is she okay?
By Brigid Chebet Ngeno
My story – A missed title and unseen battles: It is now 13 years since I finished playing regional sports in high school, and I still carry with me regrets, unanswered questions, and a lingering pain from not winning the title. I was a tough point guard.
Though my height was only 5’4”, I had speed, strength, and leadership. My team relied heavily on me. I was the talk of every team. We were feared; a man-defense only worked if you were playing against us.
But even with all that fire, we lost when it mattered the most.
One week to the championship, our coach was away, so our team captain led us through hill training. It was fun—we wanted to be stronger. We didn’t understand the physiological impact of that hill. Two days later, my legs were sore. That was four days to the big day.
Then the worst happened.
I started my period the night before the competition. All through high school, menstruation was painful for me.
This time, it was different — I had no cramps but was bleeding excessively. I felt weak. The school diet was a quarter loaf of bread and tea — barely enough for a healthy girl, let alone one in need of strength. I couldn’t afford anything more.
I played anyway. But I had no energy. My muscles were sore, I hadn’t eaten, and I was bleeding heavily. I grew dizzy on the court.
My male coach noticed and brought me milk. I drank and kept playing, but I was far from my best. That’s how my team lost. And to this day, it haunts me.
Let’s Talk About Menstruation in Sports
Every time I start my period, the soil becomes my comfort. I crave it — I can’t concentrate until I eat some. I know many girls have the same urge.
As a coach, that should be a red flag — this girl is either about to start her period or something is off in her body.
Hormones shift with fear and pressure.
You might miss your period only for it to start suddenly on the day of a competition. A change in environment, stress, or food can trigger it.
Sometimes I wonder—do athletes know of pills that can help delay menstruation for competition? Are such pills banned by anti-doping agencies, or are they allowed?
Menstruation has highs and lows. It’s uncomfortable, painful, and unpredictable. We’re not asking for sympathy — we’re asking for understanding.
The Coaches – Especially Male Coaches
Dear coach, next time you’re pushing a girl athlete hard and she seems distracted, weak, or emotional — pause. Think. Ask. Is she okay?
You may not see the silent battle she’s fighting inside. Cramps. Fatigue. Iron deficiency. Hunger. Pain. Sometimes all at once. And yet, we still show up to perform. Support matters more than you know.
Coaches need to be trained not only in sport but in emotional and physical care, especially for female athletes. Your words, your patience, and your awareness can change a girl’s entire experience.
The Fans – Your Cheers and Jeers Matter
To the fans — what you see on competition day is only part of the journey. Sometimes athletes show up with pain hidden under smiles, with heavy legs and heavier hearts. We want to win for you, for ourselves, and to represent our country — but we’re still human.
Next time a female athlete seems off her game, don’t rush to criticize. Don’t call her weak. Don’t compare her to male athletes. Instead, choose kindness. Because sometimes, she’s just trying not to faint on the field.
The Teachers and School Administrators
To school leadership, I ask — do you understand the mental and physical toll on your athletes? Are you aware of what female students go through to represent your school?
Athletes need nourishment, guidance, and safe spaces.
Support your coaches and athletes with more than just pep talks. Feed them well. Give them dignity. Let them thrive.
Fellow Athletes – Let’s Speak Up
To every girl who ever had to play through cramps, hunger, and exhaustion—I see you. Speak up. Don’t suffer in silence.
Let’s normalize conversations about menstruation in sport. Let’s demand better conditions, better understanding, and better leadership.
The Parents – You Are the Foundation
Dear parents, your daughter is trying. She’s brave, she’s ambitious, and sometimes she’s hurting. Ask how she feels. Advocate for her. Teach her to listen to her body. She needs your support now more than ever.
A Call to the Sports Ministry – We Need Sports Scientists
In Kenya, sports scientists are barely recognized. Most teams function without them. But the world has changed—science is the backbone of modern sports.
We need policies that integrate sports scientists into teams, schools, and federations. The ministry should find ways to synchronize their efforts with coaches to get better results and prevent injuries, burnout, and missed opportunities.
Message to the President – Future of Our Athletes Is a National Priority
Your Excellency President of the Republic of Kenya,
As a sports scientist and former student-athlete, I write with a heavy but hopeful heart. Behind our international medals are untold struggles. Menstrual issues, poor nutrition, overtraining, and mental stress—all faced by teenage athletes trying to make their country proud.
Sports has created jobs—athletes depend on competitions, endorsements, and coaching roles to make ends meet. But we also have many qualified Kenyans with degrees in sports science, management, physical education, and health promotion—yet they remain unemployed.
You once proudly shared that your son is studying sports management abroad to support the country. We have many sons and daughters who have done the same, waiting for a chance to serve.
We urge you to:
– Incorporate sports scientists into school and national programs.
– Support menstrual health education and access in sports.
– Ensure athletes are fed and supported with proper wellness programs.
– Create policies that structure and fund sports careers for both athletes and professionals behind the scenes.
Let Kenya’s sports system become a model of care, science, and excellence. Let it serve our daughters as much as our sons.
When we invest in sports, we invest in Kenya.
Brigid Chebet Ngeno is a sports scientist with a strong background in athletics from primary through high school. She is passionate about athlete education, sports scholarships, grassroots empowerment, branding, advocacy, and fighting gender-based violence. Her mission is to ensure every athlete has the opportunity to thrive both on and off the track.
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