Nearly all  women athletes, once they end competitive play, work on lowering the size of their muscles in different parts of their bodies. As both a softball and soccer player, you are most likely performing power movements for train your legs.

These power movements probably involve lifting very heavy loads for a few repetitions while resistance training and performing explosive movements, like pressing off of your pivot leg when sprinting.

The amount of muscle in your thighs may be reduced, but it could hamper your athletic performance if you are still active in softball and soccer.

As a power athlete, you probably have a bigger proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers (Kind II) than slow-twitch fibers (Kind I), found predominantly in endurance athletes.

Almost all of your muscle type will not change, as the type of muscle fibers don’t predominantly change over the at one’s life.

Basically, you’re born with the main kind of muscle fiber that you will always have; however, a small amount may adapt to changes in the workout regimen. Resistance and endurance training enlarges Kind I fibers, while inactivity causes them to atrophy.

In like manner, training may alter Kind II fibers, which come in two varieties - hybrid fibers (Kind IIa) and glycolitic fibers (Kind IIb).

Weight training converts Kind IIb fibers into bigger Kind IIa fibers. With disuse, Kind IIa fibers revert back to leaner Kind IIb fibers.

When you are no longer playing or simply have a strong desire to decrease the muscle size in your quadriceps and hamstrings that make up your thighs, consider cutting back on lifting heavy weights while weight training.

As opposed to performing one to four sets for three to five repetitions at a very heavy weight (85 to 100 percent of your one-lift maximum, which is the most you can lift for only one repetition, after which, you cannot repeat the exercise), begin doing three sets for 15 to 20 repetitions at a low weight (approximately 50 to 70 percent of your one-lift maximum).

Below are some leg exercises to include in your training

• squats

• leg press

• leg curls

• leg extensions

• seated and standing calf raises

• adductor

• abductor

Another choice to lessen the size of your thigh muscles is to introduce distance running into your training regimen, since you do not have or are not prone to any joint pain in your legs.

This activity can transform the size and structure of your legs. This is because distance runners adapt to this form of endurance training by developing leaner muscular legs (even though the muscle kind will predominantly remain the same).

You might consider starting with one mile and then build up to five to ten miles during a training session.

Individuals might be genetically predisposed to have strong leg muscles in their thighs. This might not only apply to you, but also might be a reason for your athletic success.

Although your legs may not look traditionally feminine, it is important to recognize their beauty in performing strong, powerful moves when scoring a goal or running to home.

Since it sounds as if you are still active in softball and soccer, you could come to terms with your priority - to stay competitive in these sports, to play at a more leisurely level, or to stop for the time being.

Your choice will determine whether, how much, and for how long you can transform the muscle mass in your thighs.

The bottom line will be determining whether it is more important to you to have strong muscles that serve you athletically, or smaller muscles and less athletic prowess (or power).

When you desire both, and you can’t change what is in your genes, then you might be able to change how you view your powerful, capable body.