Spotlight on What Really Matters in Youth Sports? Research and the Top Five Experts to Follow in 2025

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Discover what really defines a quality youth sports program—based on global research—and learn how to choose programs that prioritize fun, safety, and healthy development for all kids.

Introduction

Youth sports have the power to shape not just strong bodies, but strong character. Yet, not all sports programs are designed to support the well-being of young athletes. Many overemphasize competition, overlook inclusion, or fall short on safety. So how can parents recognize the programs that truly help kids grow? A major international research study offers a clear answer—and it’s one every parent should know.

About the Study

In 2025, a team of global scholars conducted a Delphi study to define exactly what makes a youth sports program “high quality.” The Delphi method is a structured research technique that gathers expert consensus through multiple rounds of surveys and analysis. In this case, 42 leading scholars from 18 countries and six continents—spanning fields such as sport psychology, coaching, physical education, and youth development—participated in a three-round process. Together, they identified 82 core indicators of quality youth sport, organizing them into seven major categories that reflect the full scope of a child’s experience in sport.

The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, are not anecdotal or opinion-based—they reflect a rare international consensus grounded in evidence and experience. The indicators were evaluated for both importance and real-world prioritization, revealing where youth sport often falls short of its promise.

The 7 Pillars of Quality Youth Sport, According to Research

  1. Youth Enjoyment and Experience
    The most important pillar—children should enjoy themselves, feel like they belong, and have a say in their sports experience.
  2. Equity and Accessibility
    Programs should be open and welcoming to kids from every background, ability level, and income level. Inclusion isn’t optional—it’s foundational.
  3. A Safe and Positive Program Climate
    A great youth sport program promotes both physical and psychological safety, strong peer connections, and supportive adult relationships.
  4. Deliberate and Age-Appropriate Instruction
    Coaching should be focused on long-term development, not just winning. That includes teaching fair play, emotional regulation, and goal setting.
  5. Appropriate Organizational Structure
    Programs should be run with structure, certified coaches, clear expectations, and ongoing development opportunities—but without over-professionalizing childhood sports.
  6. Holistic Youth Outcomes
    Sports should build confidence, teach life skills, support mental health, and promote lifelong physical activity—not just churn out elite athletes.
  7. Support and Inclusion of Adult Leaders
    Coaches and parents should be seen as collaborative partners in youth development. Programs should provide guidance and include parents as assets, not obstacles.

What the Research Found—and Where Programs Fall Short

While these seven themes were universally rated as important, many are underprioritized in practice. The study revealed the biggest gaps between what matters and what’s emphasized today:

  • Youth with disabilities are often overlooked.
  • Mental health and emotional skills receive too little attention.
  • Inclusion and equity are inconsistently practiced.
  • Programs rarely collaborate across sports, limiting opportunities for kids to try new things and avoid early specialization.

This means parents play a crucial role in asking the right questions and choosing programs that align with research-backed priorities.

Questions Parents Can Ask When Evaluating a Sports Program

  • How do you ensure kids are having fun and feel like they belong?
  • What steps do you take to include children from all backgrounds and abilities?
  • Are your coaches trained in child development, mental health, or emotional skills?
  • What’s your philosophy on winning vs. long-term growth?
  • How are parents involved in the program?

Who to Follow: Voices in Youth Sports

To stay informed and empowered, here are five top influencers and organizations that provide evidence-based advice on youth sport and development:

  1. Dr. Travis Dorsch – Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Families in Sport Lab at Utah State University.
  2. Aspen Institute Project Play – Project Play, the Sports & Society Program’s signature initiative, develops, applies and shares knowledge to help build healthy communities through sports.
  3. iCoachKids – A global movement whose mission is to promote sports policy, education and practice that puts kids first! 
  4. Dr. Sarah Kelly – Professor, dedicated to the intersection of sports, education and governance.  
  5. John O’Sullivan – Changing the Game Project  

Final Thoughts: Let’s Redefine Success in Youth Sports

The goal of youth sport isn’t to win medals or produce college athletes. It’s to build character, community, health, and joy. Programs that prioritize fun, safety, inclusion, and growth are the ones that create lasting value for children.

And as the study shows, we now have the tools to define and measure what “quality” really looks like.

Citation:

Vella, S., Pierce, S., Camiré, M., Newman, T. J., MacDonald, D. J., Milistetd, M., Strachan, L., & Santos, F. (2025). What is quality youth sport programming? A Delphi study of international scholar perspectives. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2025.2455171

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