Introduction

Who are child athletes and what do they need to do well? For most members of the US public, this is not an easy question to answer. Because people often don’t have much experience with the issue, they rely on narratives of exceptional successes or tabloid-worthy abuse, as well as deeply seated beliefs about children, sports, and society’s economic imperatives and demands. As a result, people often come up with a story that is high in contrast, but incomplete at best.

Members of the public think of child athletes as either superhuman prodigies who are destined to succeed athletically, or vulnerable victims exploited by pushy parents. But they can also understand that child athletes, just like other children, need support to thrive.

This brief describes the challenges and opportunities for communication that result from the public’s existing understandings of and assumptions about child athlete wellbeing. It also offers preliminary recommendations for responding to these challenges and opportunities, although further research will be needed to build on these findings and to develop the most effective ways of framing child athlete wellbeing.