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THEMES & RESEARCH AREAS

The National Youth Sport Conference 2026 revolves around the axes of the social, psychological, pedagogical, cultural, developmental and political dimensions of youth sport. We exist to connect ideas, expand interdisciplinary knowledge and ultimately improve the holistic outcomes for youth, coaches, clubs, families and communities.

COACHING PERSPECTIVES

  • Care and self-compassion in sport coaching 

  • Coaching children in sport

  • Contemporary perspectives on disability sport coaching and athlete experiences 

  • Innovative advances in coaching pedagogy

INTERPERSONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS

  • Interpersonal (e.g. family, sibling) dynamics in youth sport 

  • Youth sport experiences in rural, remote, regional and Indigenous communities

PARTICIPATION & DEVELOPMENT

  • Community sport and recreation  

  • Current perspectives on participation and dropout behaviour 

  • Pre-school aged sport participation 

  • Positive Youth Development in organised sport 

SPORTING PATHWAYS

  • Contemporary perspectives on pathways and transitions through sport 

  • Perspectives on sampling, specialisation, and investment in youth sport 

  • Perspectives on re-engagement in youth sport

ATHLETE PERFORMANCE

  • Current debates on the notion of talent in organised sport 

  • Menstrual cycles & athlete performance 

  • Youth strength & conditioning/athlete development

  • Motor development & skill acquisition in youth sport

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

  • Mental health & wellbeing in youth sport 

  • Safeguarding children & youth in sport 

  • Violence, abuse, and trauma in youth sport 

  • Sport injury prevention

INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES AND METHODS

  • Non-Western methodological approaches to youth sport research

  • Indigenous youth sport studies

  • Culturally-responsive research 

DIGITAL FUTURES

  • Wearable tech and data analytics in youth athlete development

  • Virtual and augmented reality in coaching and training

  • E-sports and digital play as part of youth sport culture

  • AI and machine learning in talent identification​

DISABILITY SPORT

  • Inequities for disabled youth in sport and physical activity

  • ​Inclusive and adaptive strategies​

National Youth Sport Conference 2026

nationalyouthsportconference@gmail.com

  • LinkedIn

The National Youth Sport Conference acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which this conference is located.

We honour their Elders and Custodians past, present and emerging.

© National Youth Sport Conference 2026

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