Aspiring athletes managing sport, education, social, and family life: A scoping review

Donna Howard; Ivan Jeftic; Paul Goods; Ben Jackson; Caitlin Fox-Harding; Michael Rosenberg

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2025.09.015

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Aspiring athletes managing sport, education, social, and family life: A scoping review

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Aspiring athletes managing sport, education, social, and family life: A scoping review

Donna Howard, Ivan Jeftic, Paul Goods, Ben Jackson, Caitlin Fox-Harding and Michael Rosenberg

Journal of science and medicine in sport, Vol.29(3), pp.316-326

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2025.09.015

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Abstract

Athlete lifestyle

Athletic identity

Dual career

Student athlete and pre-elite athlete

Support systems

Objectives This scoping review considers the experiences of aspiring high school-aged athletes as they navigate the complexities of managing sport, education, social, and family life. The review synthesises existing literature on the decisions, barriers, facilitators, and support systems that influence aspiring athletes' pathways. Design Systematic scoping review. Methods Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, four databases were searched (SCOPUS, SPORTDiscus, PsycInfo, CINAHL), and studies involving aspiring high school aged athletes were uploaded to Covidence. Results Across the four databases 1781 studies were identified through abstract screening and 61 of these studies were used for the final review. Despite the significant commitment that many young athletes devote to their sporting endeavours, the transition from aspiring to elite athlete remains challenging, with only a small percentage achieving elite status. Key findings indicate that aspiring athletes often prioritise their athletic identity over academic and social pursuits, leading to potential risks in personal development. The reviewed literature also highlights the importance of personal skills, the role of key influencers such as parents and coaches, and systemic support from educational and sport organisations. Conclusions In this review we highlight the need for a clearer definition of an aspiring athlete to enhance the comparability and synthesis of future research, and to facilitate a more systematic understanding of this population. Addressing these gaps will support the development of targeted support systems and interventions, whereas direct improvements in athlete wellbeing will require comprehensive approaches that address developmental pathways, systemic support, and individual needs.

Details

Title: Aspiring athletes managing sport, education, social, and family life: A scoping review
Authors/Creators: Donna Howard - School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Australia
Ivan Jeftic - School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Australia
Paul Goods - Murdoch University
Ben Jackson - School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Australia
Caitlin Fox-Harding - School of Health and Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia
Michael Rosenberg - School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Australia
Publication Details: Journal of science and medicine in sport, Vol.29(3), pp.316-326
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Identifiers: 991005821250207891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Healthy Ageing; School of Allied Health
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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