Guidelines for Reaching out to an Athlete You Suspect May Have an Eating Disorder

• The coach or staff person who has the best rapport with the athlete should arrange a private meeting with him/her.
• The tone of the meeting should be entirely supportive
• Calmly indicate to the athlete what specific observations were made the roused your concern. Give the athlete time to respond.
• Affirm and reaffirm that the athlete’s role on the team will not be jeopardized by an admission that a problem exists.
• Know about some of the resources in your school and community to which students can be referred
• Arrange for regularly scheduled follow-up meetings apart from practice times and obtain advice as to how you may continue to help.
• Participation on a team should be curtailed only if evidence shows that the eating disorder has compromised the athlete'’ health in a way that could lead to injury
• if the information you receive suggests an eating disorder, share with the athlete that:

-you think they have a problem with weight management, body image, or both

-you are concerned about his / her health and well- being

-you are concerned that the matter needs to be evaluated by somebody who understands eating disorders.

- Let the individual know that outside help is often required and that this need should not be regarded as a failure.

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