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IOC consensus statement: “training the elite child athlete”
  1. M Mountjoy1,
  2. N Armstrong2,
  3. L Bizzini3,
  4. C Blimkie4,
  5. J Evans5,
  6. D Gerrard6,
  7. J Hangen7,
  8. K Knoll8,
  9. L Micheli9,
  10. P Sangenis10,
  11. W Van Mechelen11
  1. 1
    IOC Medical Commission, Chateau de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
  2. 2
    University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
  3. 3
    Swiss Federation of Psychologists
  4. 4
    University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
  5. 5
    FINA Athletes Commission
  6. 6
    University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  7. 7
    University of Cornell, Ithaca, New York, USA
  8. 8
    University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  9. 9
    Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  10. 10
    Buenos Aires, Argentina
  11. 11
    VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  1. M Mountjoy, IOC Medical Commission, Chateau de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne Switzerland; mmsportdoc{at}aol.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.044016

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    Protecting the health of the athlete is the primary goal of the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission. One of its main objectives is the promotion of safe practices in the training of the elite child athlete. The elite child athlete is one who has superior athletic talent, undergoes specialised training, receives expert coaching and is exposed to early competition. Sport provides a positive environment that may enhance the physical growth and psychological development of children. This unique athlete population has distinct social, emotional and physical needs, which vary depending on the athlete’s particular stage of maturation. The elite child athlete requires appropriate training, coaching and competition that ensure a safe and healthy athletic career and promote future well-being. This document reviews the scientific basis of sports training in the child, the special challenges and unique features of training elite children and provides recommendations to parents, coaches, healthcare providers, sports governing bodies and other parties concerned.

    SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF TRAINING THE ELITE CHILD ATHLETE

    Aerobic and anaerobic fitness and muscle strength increase with age, growth and maturation. Improvement in these variables is asynchronous. Children experience more marked improvements in anaerobic and strength performance than in aerobic performance during pubescence. Boys’ aerobic and anaerobic fitness and muscle strength are …

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