What to Say Coaches

Build a Body-Healthy Sports Culture

Our free, evidence-based resources give sports coaches practical tools to support healthy nutrition, positive body image, and mental well-being in young athletes—while preventing eating disorders and supporting peak performance.

Coach talking with a young athlete, symbolizing the What to Say Coaches Program, which equips coaches with positive, supportive language to promote kids’ confidence, health, and well-being.
30% of our girls are engaged in harmful food and body behaviors.
45% of our girls stop playing sports by age 14 due to low body confidence.
3X more likely for athletes to develop an eating disorder than non-athletes.

Eating disorders impact young athletes at the same rates as concussions.

Get started with the right fit for your team.

What to Say Coaches gives you simple, practical tools to build positive body image, healthy relationships with food and exercise, and strong performance in young athletes.

Coach talking with a young athlete, symbolizing the What to Say Coaches Program, which equips coaches with positive, supportive language to promote kids’ confidence, health, and well-being.

For Coaches of Kids

The Coaches Challenge is a simple 5-week email course that provides ready-to-use phrases and guidance for practices and everyday conversations. It helps coaches reinforce the positive body image and healthy relationship with food and exercise that children are born with.
Coach with arm around youth athletes, representing the What to Say Youth Coaches Course.

For Coaches of Teens

The Coach's Guide is a free, evidence-based resource for coaches of teens. It offers practical tools to promote healthy fueling habits, positive body image, and overall well-being in athletes. You’ll also learn to spot early warning signs of disordered eating and how to respond with care.

Backed by Experts. Proven in the Field.

WithAll is a nationally recognized nonprofit leading eating disorder prevention, partnering with top athletic organizations and clinicians to equip coaches with research-based tools that work.

Newton's Cradle Balance Balls

Policy Impact

WithAll led the passage of the first-ever eating disorder prevention legislation for coaches.
Bullhorn

National Reach

We serve as the U.S. Council for Athletes' Health’s lead educator on eating disorder prevention—training organizations of every size, from youth leagues to Power 5 programs, including the Big Ten and the Minnesota State High School League.
Compass

Expert Guidance

Our resources are shaped by a national expert panel of leaders in medicine, nutrition, coaching, and lived experience and utilized by coaches, parents and Olympic athletes.

Hear From Coaches Like You

Jessie Diggins, Olympic Nordic Skiing Gold Medalist

Message from Jessie Diggins, Olympic Nordic Skiing Gold Medalist:

“Hey, Coaches! Thank you so much for coming to this page and learning about how you can have a positive impact on the kids that you coach when it comes to food and body image.

I can personally attest to how having coaches who have taken the time to educate themselves has been a huge part in helping me with my recovery and helping me fuel a lifelong, healthy career.

With What to Say Coaches, you’re going to learn precise and accurate information that is going to help empower you to help the kids that you coach have a better relationship with food and body. Thank you so much for taking the time to learn and empower yourself so that you can be a positive role model for all the kids in your life.”

What Coaches Are Saying

  • There can be negative associations with certain foods. We all have done it! I working with kids I became more aware of the problem and developed a more comprehensive view of the issues. The program was transformative for me and how I approach coaching.
    Evan
    Middle School Coach
  • It’s a great coach's tool for building healthy relationships with food and body. I became more aware of word and food choices. As a team, I really liked the last week and how the focus on everyone’s uniqueness adds to the team as a whole.
    Allie
    Middle School Coach
  • We are all busy and there is mis-messaging all over the place when it comes to food, health and our children. It’s great to have a trusted organization to give us talking points, activities and a plan for our young athletes. Educating them from the start on good choices will set the expectations for later in life.
    Steph
    Athletic Trainer
Healthy kids are happy kids.

What to Say For Coaches of Kids

Take the Coaches Challenge

Starting early is key to helping young athletes develop healthy body image and fueling habits. As a coach, you can shape this mindset through small shifts in how you talk about food, body, and exercise, both at practice and on the field.

Join our five-week challenge to learn how to discuss healthy body image and behaviors with young athletes.

Sign up for this mini-course with key phrases, their significance, self-reflection prompts, and actionable steps for your next practice or game.

What to Say Coaches Challenge





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What to Say for Coaches of Teens

The What to Say Coach’s Guide to Healthy Fueling and Body Image

Athletes are three times more likely to develop an eating disorder than non-athletes. As a coach, you can be the first line of defense—creating a team environment that supports both mental and physical health and knowing the signs and steps to take when intervention is needed.

This free, evidence-based e-book for coaches gives you practical tools to:

  • Foster positive athlete body image and healthy fueling habits with healthy training messages
  • Recognize early warning signs of disordered eating and eating disorders
  • Know what to say and do if you’re concerned about an athlete
    Build stronger, healthier athletes—starting with the words you use every day.

WithAll Resource Download: Coach's Guide






Articles for Coaches

Coaches
Sep 18, 2025
Worried about how a young athlete feels about food and their body? You're not alone. Athletes hear constant messages about food, body, and performance, and these influences can shape how they see themselves.
Parents
Mar 11, 2024
Minnesota kids experience eating disorders as often as they experience concussions – and yet there is no Minnesota law that addresses eating disorder prevention.
coaches
Aug 17, 2022
In today's video, top olympic skiers Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher will equip and inspire you to support the health of the athletes in your life with their powerful stories

Ready to Empower the Next Generation of Athletes?

Together, we can transform sport culture, equip coaches, and free athletes from food and body shame to play their best.