Youth Sport Development Research Articles

They are still children: a scoping review of conditions for positive engagement in elite youth sport

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to characterise the key factors that influence positive engagement and desirable developmental outcomes in sport among elite youth athletes by summarising the methods, groups...

Physical literacy, health and interactive aging: a position paper.

Physical literacy (PL), a concept commonly associated with the early years, physical education, and youth sport development, can become a meaningful determinant of health and longevity for the adult and older adult population. A review of 55 recent publications from 2018 to 2023 that encompassed physical literacy conceptual frameworks, assessments, and intervention-based studies was undertaken through an heuristic inspired by the philosophy which gave birth to PL. With particular interest in how PL has evolved in response to the needs of an aging population, this position paper tracks a key shift in focus from the individual to the relational context. It references positive interaction and social participation in recent models as significant features of an across-the-lifespan PL perspective.The concluding position is that fostering joyful inter-action be at the heart of PL promotion, resource development and assessment practices, especially in the case of an aging population.

Perceived competence in ice hockey and its associations with relative age, early sport specialization, and players’ position

IntroductionIce hockey is a sport that has gained much attention in recent times, particularly concerning the development of young players. In the domain of youth sport development, one significant factor that must be considered is the perceived competence of players. This variable is closely linked to positive psychological outcomes and sustained practice. However, there is a lack of understanding about how other important developmental factors such as age, early sport specialization, players’ position and relative age affect players’ perceived competence. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the relationships between these developmental factors, perceived ice hockey competence and a global measure of perceived sport competence.MethodsData was drawn from 971 players (14.78 ± 1.61 mean age), who completed on-line questionnaires, from which we conducted path analyses involving all variables.ResultsYounger players tend to display higher perceived competence scores than older players. Additionally, players who opted to specialize earlier also reported higher perceived competence. Furthermore, forwards and defensemen had differing perceptions of their competence, which was in line with their respective roles on the ice. The study also showed relative age effects, in which players who were born earlier relative to the selection period tend to perceive themselves more advantageously in three components of perceived competence.DiscussionBased on these findings, several recommendations are proposed for coaches and decision-makers to encourage the positive development of ice hockey players. The study highlights that ice hockey-specific competencies are influenced by various factors, such as early sport specialization, relative age effect, player age, and position.

Reaching Young People in Urban and Rural Communities with Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Within a Youth Sports Development Program: Integrating In-Person and Remote Modes of Service Delivery.

Embedding mental health and wellbeing programs within youth sports development programs can help provide more young people with mental health support. However, delivering such programs in multiple locations across metropolitan, regional, and rural areas requires novel solutions to overcome geographic and logistical barriers. We examined the delivery of an integrated system delivered within an Australian junior rugby league program. The program included online assessment and feedback about youth mental health, as well as connection with evidence-informed resources and referral sources via parent telephone and email support. There were four methods of delivering player workshops during training sessions: (a) In-person Delivery Only, (b) In-person + Remote Real-time (video-conferenced), (c) In-person + Remote Prerecorded (video-recorded), and (d) Remote Delivery Only (video-conferenced and/or video-recorded). In-person delivered player workshops were facilitated by local rugby league personnel. Remote delivered workshops were facilitated by psychologists from the mental health research team. Participants were 671 boys (12-15years; M age = 13.35; SD = 0.35) in 21 metropolitan, regional and rural locations. Regardless of delivery condition, players with elevated anxiety, depression and behavioural problems reported significant declines in symptoms from pre- to post-program, and those within healthy ranges did not change from pre- to post-program. Player workshop enjoyment ratings were higher in the In-person + Remote Real-time condition and the Remote Delivery Only condition than the In-person Delivery Only condition. However, non-completion of the post-program assessment across all conditions was higher than in prior studies and a comparison group of players who did not complete the program was not included. Mental health benefits may be observed across in-person and remote modes of delivering mental health workshops within youth sports programs. However, the involvement of mental health personnel, whether in-person or remotely, and mixed delivery modes, may be important for young people's retention and satisfaction.

Relative Age and Positive Youth Development in Youth Sport: Do Developmental Assets Play a Role in Creating Advantage Reversals in Female Soccer?

Relative age effects (RAEs) are commonly associated with advantages for older athletes. However, a variety of benefits attributed to 'advantage reversals' have been observed among relatively younger professional athletes. Considering psychosocial development as a proposed mechanism, the purpose of this study was twofold: (1) To explore an association between developmental assets (i.e., facilitators of positive youth development [PYD]) and RAEs; (2) To assess whether overall developmental asset levels are protective against sport dropout. The Developmental Assets Profile© was distributed to members of a one-year cohort of post-adolescent, female soccer players from Ontario, Canada. The presence of differences between groups of relatively older (H1; n = 64) and younger (H2; n = 57) participants and developmental asset scales were assessed using discriminant analysis. A binary logistic regression was conducted to assess whether overall developmental asset levels are protective against sport dropout, with consideration of relevant factors. Findings suggest that relatively younger, female players score higher in two internal categories: commitment to learning and positive values. The overall developmental asset scores were not found to be protective against dropout. This study provides preliminary, albeit cautious, support that 'advantage reversals' may be in part associated with enhanced PYD resulting from developmental sport experiences.

The Impact of Post-Collegiate Playing Opportunities on DI Field Hockey Players and Their Athlete Identity

Olympic sports tend to lack professional playing opportunities compared to league and revenue sports. This study evaluated how the lack of professional playing opportunity for Olympic sports might impact athlete identity. This study collected data from NCAA DI field hockey players utilizing the 10-item Athlete Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) questionnaire. Researchers hypothesized the number of years playing field hockey, student-athlete grade level/graduation year, and the belief of playing at the next level would significantly impact athlete identity. Results refuted both hypotheses; however, results elicit further conversation about NCAA competition levels, the belief of playing at the next level, and the impact of youth sport development. The current study found athlete identity is complex and efforts at the micro-, mezzo-, and macro-levels to understand and assist student-athletes navigate their athlete identity is important for overall well-being. The study concludes with suggestions for future research and practical implications for exploring the complexities of athlete identity.

Assessment and Conceptualization of Perceived Competence in Ice Hockey: A Scale Development and Validation Study.

Perceived competence plays a crucial role in establishing environments favorable to individual development in youth sport. As most assessment tools of perceived competence are not sport-specific, they have limited usefulness for sport practitioners and researchers. This study had two-fold aims: (i) to develop a perceived competence assessment tool specific to ice hockey; and (ii) to examine its factorial structure and internal consistency. We first developed an initial 29-item version of this ice hockey competence self-report scale, using a group of ice hockey stakeholders and sports science experts to develop the items and a pilot sample of 42 hockey players to confirm test-retest reliability. Finally, we validated the scale among a cohort of 770 adolescent ice hockey players (M age = 14.78, SD = 1.60 years). Results from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed that perceived competence in ice hockey was defined by six dimensions, with rejection of seven items. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested that the 6-factor first order model was the best fit with the conceptualization of perceived competence in ice hockey (CFI = 0.938, RMSEA = 0.044). The final, 22-item questionnaire now provides a reliable and valid measure of perceived competence in hockey for adolescent participants. It has promise for evaluating future interventions aiming to foster young athletes' perceived confidence through sport.

The social environment of talent development in youth sport.

During the last decade, talent identification and development research that favours an individual perspective has been complemented by a focus on young athletes' social environments, termed "athletic talent development environments" (ATDEs). Two major lines of research have created a foundation for an ecological vision of talent development as the mutual accommodation between athletes and their ATDEs and of career development as an athlete's journey through various athletic and non-athletic environments. The Talent Development Environment Questionnaire allows the quantitative screening of athletes' environments, while the holistic ecological approach (HEA) promotes in-depth qualitative case studies of ATDEs. In this chapter, we focus mainly on the HEA, including: (a) two models that combine to illustrate an ATDE; (b) a summary of empirical case studies of successful environments in various sports and countries, culminating in a set of shared features of ATDEs that promote athletes' wellbeing and athletic and personal development; (c) an overview of recent trends within HEA (e.g. interorganisational collaboration in talent development) and (d) recommendations for coaches and sport psychology consultants, emphasising the importance of integrating efforts across the whole environment and building strong and coherent organisational cultures. In the discussion, we elaborate on developing the HEA discourse and point to future challenges for researchers and practitioners.

Evaluating the Implementation of a Multi-Technology Delivery of a Mental Health and Wellbeing System of Care Within a Youth Sports Development Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges to the provision of community programs and access to mental health services for young people. We examined the feasibility, reach, and acceptability of multi-technology delivery of an integrated system that assesses and provides feedback on youth mental health and wellbeing and connects them to care within the context of a youth sports development program. The system was delivered via computer, telephone, and teleconference with 66 adolescent boys participating in a rugby league development program in three communities in Australia. Young people completed online wellbeing and mental health measures (Assess step), parents were provided with telephone feedback on results, support, and referral options (Reflect step), and youth received teleconferenced workshops and online resources (Connect step). The multi-technology delivery was feasible to implement, and reach was high, with barriers experienced at the Assess step but minimally experienced at the Reflect and Connect steps. Delivering the system via multiple forms of technology was rated as highly beneficial and enjoyable by young people. Players improved in self-reported prosocial behaviour, gratitude, and anxiety symptoms from pre- to post-program. Strong collaboration between researchers, organisational personnel, and community members is important for achieving these outcomes.

The new hope of Chinese football? Youth football reforms and policy conflicts in the implementation process

ABSTRACT Research question This research focuses on the implementation of youth football policies in China following the 2015 national football reform. It asks the question ‘To what extent have contextual and organisational factors facilitated and/or constrained the effective implementation of Chinese youth football policies?’ Research methods Guided by a critical realist ontology, we conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved in the implementation process of the youth football policy including members of the national and local football associations, schools, and professional football clubs. Results and findings The findings reveal a number of policy conflicts that restricted an effective implementation of the youth football policies. The main conflict lay in the ambiguous intertwinement of two dominant policy coalitions (i.e. sport and education), which consequently led to confusion and conflicts among key implementers in the three pathways. Other factors such as the continuous mismatch of traditional values and beliefs held by actors towards youth football participation, as well as the emphasis on excellence over participation by some actors are also identified as having potentially inhibited effective implementation. Implications This paper contributes to the debate of the positioning of youth sport in an increasingly elite-driven sporting context. It argues that policymakers, implementers, and the overall society, even if they are willing to foster a positive youth sport development, can also generate an adverse effect if they do not work together.

Co-creation in youth sport development: examining (mis)alignment between coaches and parents

ABSTRACT The authors explore the challenges and opportunities for a youth sport system in an entrepreneurial marketplace by identifying areas of (mis)alignment between parents and coaches, a key partnership in youth sport development. The context of tennis was used to recruit a sample of 130 parents and 113 coaches based in the United States. Choice-based conjoint analysis was used to compare the relative importance parents and coaches place on key youth sport program attributes and their preference for specific attribute levels. Information sources were also examined. Significant differences were found between parents’ and coaches’ preferences for specific program implementations, and the importance they placed on each attribute. Univariate analyses revealed significant differences for parents’ and coaches’ preferences for levels within each attribute, although the order of preference for each level was the same. Parents and coaches also differed in the importance placed on information sources. Overall findings indicate misalignment, which may affect parent/coach collaboration and ultimately inhibit effective athlete development. However, the findings do suggest the potential for collaboration, as parents and coaches value shared responsibility. Recommendations for facilitating collaboration for more effective athlete development include reducing consumer confusion via shared language and interpretation, and stimulating co-creation via structural change.

A self-determination theory based investigation of life skills development in youth sport

ABSTRACT This study investigated if basic need satisfaction and frustration mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching behaviours and participants’ development of eight different life skills in youth sport. British sports participants (N = 309, Mage = 14.71) completed measures assessing the study variables. Correlational analyses showed that autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours were positively associated with the satisfaction of participants’ three basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and their development of all eight life skills, whereas controlling coaching behaviours were only positively related to the frustration of participants’ three basic needs. Mediational analyses revealed that satisfaction of all three basic needs combined (total need satisfaction) mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants’ development of the eight life skills. Relatedness satisfaction mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants’ development of all eight life skills except for goal setting; autonomy satisfaction mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants’ time management skills; and competence satisfaction mediated the associations between autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours and participants’ goal setting and emotional skills. Based on such findings, coaches should look to display autonomy-supportive behaviours that help to satisfy participants’ three basic psychological needs and promote their life skills development in sport.

Player perceptions of athlete leadership and leadership development in an English Premier League football academy

The effective leadership of, and within, sports teams has consistently been highlighted to be an important factor impacting upon a range of outcomes including team performance, and team functioning. However, while there has been an increasing focus on athlete leadership and leadership development in recent years there is little research exploring leadership (rather than leader) development in youth sport. As a result, the aim of this study was to explore athlete perceptions of athlete leadership and the development of athlete leadership skills in a professional football youth academy. Participants were 34 professional football club youth academy players, arranged into 9 focus groups (depending upon age). The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, with six first order themes emerging (Leader behaviors, selection criteria, shared leadership, growth and development, changing environmental constraints, and leader development). The results highlight a good level of awareness of leadership amongst the youth footballers, but also major limitations in the degree to which they felt they were developed as leaders.

Current Sport Organization Guidelines From the AMSSM 2019 Youth Early Sport Specialization Research Summit.

Youth athletes may be at elevated risk for adverse health due to sport specialization. Sport organizations have developed guidelines for participation during growth and development. To assess youth sport development guidelines using a 15-item framework across sport organizations and governing bodies in soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and swimming. English-language results from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, from published sport organization guidelines and athlete development plans. Two investigators independently reviewed publications identified from sport organizations. A total of 23 guidelines were incorporated, including 5 general sport organizations and 18 sport-specific guidelines. Systematic review. Level 4. Two investigators independently identified all recommendations that fit within a predetermined rubric of recommendations encompassing 4 domains: Psychological Development/Approach, Physical Development/Load, Facilities and Resources, and Timing and Monitoring of Specialization. Sport-specific guidelines on volume were summarized. Sport organizations and sport-specific guidelines had consensus on 2 items out of the 15-item: emphasis on early skill development and access to well-trained coaches. While recommended by all sports organization, multisport participation was emphasized by 3 of 4 sports, excluding soccer. Volume recommendations were inconsistent between and within sports. No group proposed methods to monitor athlete well-being. This review highlights areas of agreement within sport organizations and governing bodies. Creating a framework to guide youth sport specialization may lead to specific and consistent guidelines.

Investigating the Youth Sports Development Pathway Within a South African Context.

The past two decades witnessed increased participation in professional as well as amateur sport, giving impetus to concomitant amplified interest in long-term athlete development (LTAD). LTAD has been described as the structured and progressive growth of an athlete through different stages of development resulting in some athletes achieving elite sport status. Furthermore, the interest in athletic career development from a holistic perspective has contributed to management approaches underscoring sustainable talent development and participation in sport. The current study investigated youth sports development pathways through both models of development within a South African context. A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design was used to generate a convenient sample of athletes (N = 267). The Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ) was administered, which in previous studies produced acceptable psychometric properties. Principal factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Monte Carlo parallel simulation, MANOVA, and hierarchical regression were performed to analyze the data. The TDEQ was validated for the South African context and was found to measure four components, namely supportive and challenging environment, development fundamentals, support networks, and long-term development. Respondents in the various developmental categories of novice, advanced and elite student-athletes were not statistically significantly influenced by any of the four factors. Controlling for the talent developmental phase, the model proposed did not statistically significantly predict the development pathway of youth athletes. The results provide evidence with some practical significance as supportive and challenging environment and long-term development focus reported a small effect. Further research is warranted to develop a more suitable measuring instrument to measure the talent development pathway within the investigated athlete environment.

Coaches, parents, or peers: Who has the greatest influence on sports participants’ life skills development?

ABSTRACT This study investigated the relationships between the coach, parent, and peer motivational climate and participants’ life skills development in youth sport. In total, 308 participants (M age = 14.67, SD = 2.20) completed a survey assessing the motivational climate (mastery and ego) and their life skills development in sport (teamwork, goal setting, social skills, emotional skills, problem solving and decision making, leadership, time management, and interpersonal communication). Multiple regression analyses found that a peer-created mastery-climate had the strongest positive associations with all eight life skills and total life skills. Coach and parent mastery-oriented climates were also positively related to five of the life skills and total life skills. A parent-created ego-climate had the strongest negative association with all life skills except for goal setting; whereas, a coach-created ego-climate was negatively related to three life skills and total life skills. Contrary to expectations, a peer-created ego-climate was positively associated with three life skills and total life skills. In practice, these novel results suggest that peers have the greatest positive influence on participants’ life skills development in sport and all three social agents should be encouraged to create a mastery-climate to help promote participants’ life skills development.

Facilitating Sustainable Outcomes for the Organization of Youth Sports through Youth Engagement

The aim of this study was to explore how a youth sport development programme in connection with a major event may facilitate sustainable outcomes for the organization of youth sports in Norway. The context of the study involved the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports’ initiative to increase young people’s engagement within Norwegian organized sports. The result of the initiative was the Young Leaders Programme (YLP) in connection with the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games. Young people’s perceptions of the YLP, as well as how these perceptions relate to its implementation, are evaluated to determine the extent to which the programme may make a difference to sustainable youth engagement in organized sports. Qualitative data were generated through interviews with 16 YLP participants, aged 16–20, and five implementing agents. Applying the framework of processes affecting sustainability, the study shows how certain forms of sustainability can be enhanced while constraining other forms at the same time. The findings highlight that project design and implementation play a more crucial role in creating organizational sustainability than in creating individual sustainability. Furthermore, we were able to reveal that the engagement of young people in sport events as volunteers fosters individual sustainability, of which sport organizations and sporting communities should take advantage by providing arenas where young people can re-engage in sport organizations and thus contribute as change agents to a sustainable organization for youth sports.

Thriving in youth sport: the antecedents and consequences

ABSTRACT Thriving, “a psychological state composed of the joint experience of vitality and learning (Spreitzer, Sutcliffe, Dutton, Sonenshein, & Grant [2005]. A socially embedded model of thriving at work. Organization Science, 16(5), 537–549.)” might offer further insight into the problem of youth sport development research. The purpose of the study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying thriving within a youth sport context. More specifically, the present study considered the perspective of Self-Determination Theory and in particular, how hedonic and eudaimonic motives, as antecedents of thriving, influenced youth athletes’ outcomes (i.e., intention to continue sport, subjective well-being in sport, and goal progress), consequences of thriving. 196 youth sport participants answered an online survey. Path analysis was conducted to test our hypotheses. We used the bias-corrected bootstrap procedure to examine the hypothesised indirect effects. Our results showed that both hedonic and eudaimonic motives were positively related to all outcome variables (intention to continue sport, subjective well-being in sport, and goal progress) through both the basic psychological need satisfaction and thriving. Thriving is an important psychological concept that can facilitate youth athletes to acquire important outcomes for youth sport participation.

Youth Sport and COVID-19: Contextual, Methodological, and Practical Considerations.

One of the growing concerns among youth sport stakeholders is how the COVID-19 pandemic will shape youth sport development. Given the novelty and rapidly changing nature of these events, the impacts on development are not yet clear. Thus, to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of this crisis, it is crucial for researchers and practitioners to examine the effects on youth development at different timescales. Although we are seeing immediate changes in the activities, social dynamics, and settings that are influencing youth's real-time experiences, questions remain regarding its influence on short-, and long-term developmental outcomes (Kelly et al., 2020). Moving forward, we will need to be cognizant of how this watershed moment will shape youth sport development for months and years to come. As such, this opinion article will focus on exploring potential contextual, methodological, and practical considerations that may be relevant as we navigate through these uncertain times. Further, we hope to encourage researchers and practitioners to embrace this as an opportunity to critically reflect and evaluate the existing practice of youth sport.

Olympism and Positive Youth Development (PYD): A New Goal in The Extension of Youth Sports Development for Basketball in Indonesia

The basic principle of Olympism aims to make sport as a harmonious human development tool to create a peaceful society and to respect human dignity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Olympism values in the context of a positive development of the youth, as well as the historical journey of basketball development including the competition system which has been running before. The research method used was descriptive method by employing document review and semi-structured interviews as the instruments to obtain data. The results of this study revealed how the basic principles of Olympism are applied as an approach in basketball coaching in the context of the positive development of youth. The responses of parents, builders, and coaches regarding the new approach in the basketball coaching system are explored and discussed deeply.