Beyond the Game: Why Athletes Need Early Support for Holistic Wellness, Legal Protection, and Lifelong Growth

In 2021, Icelandic footballer Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir was preparing for one of life’s biggest changes: becoming a mother. But while playing for French club Olympique Lyonnais, she discovered that her pregnancy came with an unexpected professional challenge. Her salary payments stopped.

Gunnarsdóttir had assumed something had gone wrong. When the payments continued to be missed, she sought answers. With support from FIFPRO, the global players’ union, she pursued a claim under FIFA’s Maternity Regulations. In May 2022, she became the first player to win a claim under those regulations, securing the payments she was entitled to receive.

Her experience exposed an uncomfortable reality: even elite athletes at prestigious clubs can face challenges understanding and enforcing their rights. If this can happen at the highest level, what happens to younger players who have fewer resources, less experience, and nobody to turn to for guidance?

Her story illustrates why athlete support must begin long before professional success.

Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash

Holistic Wellness Starts Before Professional Success

An athlete is more than their physical abilities. Mental health, relationships, education, financial security, and a sense of belonging all influence their experience of sport.

The International Olympic Committee’s consensus statement on mental health in elite athletes highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health concerns in sporting environments.

Wellness, therefore, should not become a priority only after burnout, injury, or emotional distress appears.

Schools, academies, clubs, and coaches can introduce healthy practices early: access to qualified mental health professionals, education about recovery and nutrition, and environments where athletes can ask for help without fearing judgment.

When support becomes part of sporting culture, athletes have a better foundation for sustainable careers.

Work and Management Support Must Grow With the Athlete

Talent can open doors, but athletes also need people and systems to help them navigate what lies beyond the pitch.

At grassroots and youth levels, this means responsible coaching, transparent selection processes, safe training environments, and adults who understand their safeguarding responsibilities. As athletes progress, they may need career guidance, financial education, contract advice, and professional representation.

These services should not be reserved for established stars.

Early access to qualified legal professionals can help athletes understand agreements, recognize exploitative practices, protect their personal information, and know where to turn when something feels wrong.

For younger athletes, appropriate adult oversight and independent reporting channels are particularly important. FIFA’s safeguarding guidance outlines ways football stakeholders can develop practices to protect children from harm.

Legal protection is not separate from wellness. Athletes who fear retaliation for speaking up or do not understand their employment terms may struggle to feel secure enough to thrive. Because rights differ by country, age, and competition level, organizations should connect players with qualified local legal support.

Women’s Soccer Needs More Than Investment

Women’s soccer is growing, attracting greater commercial attention and creating new opportunities. But increased visibility does not automatically guarantee better working conditions or comprehensive player support.

A 2026 FIFPRO report highlighted financial circumstances and mental health among the reasons women consider leaving the game early.

Investment in the sport must also mean investment in the people sustaining it.

Women players need appropriate medical care, injury rehabilitation, maternity protections, fair employment conditions, mental health resources, and support during career transitions. They also need systems that recognize discrimination, unequal opportunities, and limited access to professional resources.

Gunnarsdóttir’s experience demonstrates why these protections must be understood and accessible before a crisis arises.

Community Creates Room to Grow Beyond Performance

Athletic identity can be powerful, but it can also become restrictive when a person’s entire sense of worth depends on results.

Peer networks, mentors, wellness practitioners, and career-development programs allow athletes to exchange experiences, discover opportunities, and build confidence beyond their sporting achievements.

This matters during injury, selection disappointments, retirement, and the everyday challenge of balancing sport with family, education, and personal life.

Community also creates opportunities beyond the scoreboard. Athletes might discover an interest in leadership, entrepreneurship, coaching, or advocacy through the people they meet.

The goal is not to distract athletes from their ambitions. It is to help them pursue those ambitions without sacrificing their well-being or losing sight of who they are outside the game.

Building a Better Future for Every Player

Creating this culture requires shared responsibility. Clubs can establish clear welfare policies and referral pathways. Coaches can encourage open communication. Employers and managers can prioritize fair treatment and sustainable workloads. Families can remind young athletes that asking for support is a strength, not a weakness.

Wellness organizations and community partners can complement these efforts by connecting players with resources, professional guidance, and supportive networks.

Most importantly, athletes should have a voice in shaping the systems designed to support them. Their lived experiences can help organizations identify gaps and develop programs that respond to real needs.

Soccerex, The Wellness Universe, and HerSoccerex: A Shared Vision

This is where collaboration becomes essential. Soccerex and The Wellness Universe are collaborating to advance a more holistic approach to athlete well-being, with HerSoccerex at the center of this effort.

Through its work with The Players Network and the TPN Wellness Academy, The Wellness Universe is helping bring wellness education and professional expertise to women in soccer. HerSoccerex extends this vision by creating connections among female players, executives, entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and allies.

The opportunity is to build stronger pathways to mentorship, education, professional relationships, and growth—both during an athlete’s playing career and beyond it.

Because the future of soccer should not be measured by growth alone. It should also be measured by how well the sport protects its players, supports their ambitions, and creates environments where they can flourish.

Every athlete deserves the opportunity to grow, feel safe, understand their rights, and build a meaningful life both on and off the pitch. That foundation should begin long before the world knows their name.

The Wellness Universe has experienced mentors and wellness experts who provide holistic healing and support. If you need assistance, you can find our experts on The Wellness Universe website.