Youth sport in the time of COVID-19: considerations for researchers and practitioners

• Published in: Managing leisure Vol. 27; no. 1-2; pp. 62 - 72
• Main Authors: Kelly, Adam L., Erickson, Karl, Turnnidge, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 04.03.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: athlete development; Coronavirus; lockdown; pandemic; personal assets framework; sport experiences
• ISSN: 2375-0472; 1360-6719; 2375-0480
• DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2020.1788975

COVID-19 represents an unprecedented challenge for the youth sport sector. Due to public health policies designed to slow down the transmission of this highly infectious disease and mitigate secondary impacts, youth sport programs around the world have experienced sudden interruptions to their activities. In this commentary, we put forward the Personal Assets Framework as a tool to explore the potential implications of COVID-19 on youth sport development. Adaptations to the dynamic elements of the sport experience, including personal engagement in activities (i.e. virtual coaching; developmental trajectories), quality social dynamics (i.e. athlete relationships; health and well-being), and appropriate settings and organizational structures (i.e. social-cultural factors; safety concerns), are explored. This article will also discuss the potential consequences of changes in these dynamic elements on immediate, short-, and long-term developmental outcomes. Finally, we offer contextual, methodological, and practical considerations for researchers and practitioners operating in youth sport to consider during this crisis.