The challenge

Adolescence is inherently dynamic and non-linear with asynchronous development of numerous physical, physiological, psychological and social attributes within and between individuals. Accordingly, each athlete’s personal development profile uniquely affects their own athletic development and corresponding performance and risk in sport. Whereas an apt discipline-specific or overall AER is arguably warranted, precisely where those respective limits should be sensibly established cannot be easily defined. What is more, an AER alone (although convenient) would not be sufficient in enabling and maintaining a healthy and sustainable development and participation pathway for those youth athletes attempting to navigate their own Olympic journey.

A contemporary paradigm

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has established a new robust prioritisation on supporting and protecting elite youth athletes. Thus, it was timely to convene a meeting of diverse scientific and clinical expertise in youth athlete health and development with global representation of administrative and sport leadership to thoroughly discuss AERs for the Olympic Games and consider a responsible and holistic way forward. Moreover, it was equally evident that the conventional path and largely age-based selection criteria for those choice youth athletes deemed eligible candidates for the Olympic Games could broadly benefit from a more evidence-informed universal standard.

The 2015 IOC consensus statement on youth athletic development was meant to be a reference and provide guidelines for sustainably developing healthy, resilient and capable youth athletes,1 whereas the complementary IOC consensus statement in this issue of BJSM specifically focuses on highly trained, national level and above, elite youth athletes training for and participating in international sporting events such as the Olympic Games ( see page 946 ). To ensure pertinent emerging research in key relevant domains fundamental to our consensus objectives and central to elite youth athletes across adolescence was reflected, three independent scoping reviews were systematically performed, integrated and separately published here. These reviews comprised a thorough evidence summary on: (1) growth, maturation and injury risk ( see page 1001 ) (2) mental health and well-being ( see page 1011 ) and (3) positive athlete engagement and development ( see page 1021 ).

Though AERs and their inherent challenges and flaws are highlighted in this consensus statement, we also emphasise the underlying bio-psychosocial and modifiable challenges facing elite youth athletes. Many of these challenges are inherent to adolescence and must be suitably taken into consideration as warranted. While numerous potential environmental threats can be readily moderated and thus be afforded only a limited negative impact, others may be feasibly avoided altogether. We then defined a contemporary child-centred paradigm based on an individualised and responsive ecological approach across adolescence that facilitates healthy engagement, proper safeguarding and optimal and sustainable performance in elite youth sport with progressively increasing levels of athlete autonomy. This evolving model is aptly complemented by corresponding recommendations that could be practically integrated across youth sports on the world stage.

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Going forward

To the youth sports community involved in elite-level youth athlete training, development and international competition, including the Olympic and Youth Games, it is essential to provide a clear, broad and consistent direction forward with an informed consensus of guidelines, recommendations and related call to action. Accordingly, the best practices standards and expectations underscored in this consensus statement are primarily directed to those administering applicable elite youth sport events and to all who operate within and influence relevant sport organisations, governing bodies and their inherent development and participation frameworks for elite youth athletes.

The complex integrated and interdependent network of influencing factors—enabling or interfering with personal development for each elite youth athlete—cross multiple domains germane to elite youth sports. Thus, these guiding principles and emerging solutions are not trivial and warrant a responsive systems-based strategy. We may ultimately have the data and corresponding insights into support AERs that are aligned with and seamlessly complement practical sports settings across the globe, but such limits must still be harmonised, implemented and reinforced within the context of an encompassing and supporting contemporary youth-centred paradigm. The resulting impact will help elite youth athletes and all those assisting and championing them to navigate their Olympic journey across adolescence safely. Moreover, each youth athlete can accordingly advance in a way that is healthy, sustainable and provides the best opportunities for positive personal engagement, development, enjoyment and success at the highest level.