Appropriateness of running as a sport for preadolescent children
| Topic | Statement | SORT rating |
| Specialisation | There is limited evidence to support sport specialisation as a risk factor for overuse lower extremity injury in high school cross country and distance track athletes | B |
| Specialisation | No evidence is available to define an appropriate age to start specialisation in running or to suggest that specialisation in running improves athletic performance | B |
| Free Play | Free play outside of the sport of running should be encouraged for the overall growth and development of youth runners | C |
| Age-Appropriate Distances | Early evidence suggests that youth runners physically and mentally prepared through a supervised training programme can participate in long distance events, but may be at low risk of running-related injury | C |
| Age-Appropriate Distances | There are no studies to support specific distances or training recommendations for youth runners to prevent injury or guide normal growth and development | C |
SORT, strength of recommendation taxonomy.