The long-term sustainability of professional sports leagues and broader sports ecosystems in emerging markets depends critically on structured youth development pathways. While professional leagues, commercialization, and media visibility often receive primary attention, these elements cannot generate durable outcomes without a stable grassroots foundation. This paper conceptualizes youth development as a foundational structural pillar within systemic sports frameworks, particularly the Egiazarian Model of Sports League Development. Drawing on systems theory and comparative institutional analysis, the study identifies five key determinants of effective youth development: (1) access and early entry,(2) affordability and inclusion,(3) coaching quality,(4) retention and clear developmental pathways,(5) institutional alignment. The paper further explores the central role of clubs and community integration in emerging-market contexts. Empirical observations from hockey league development illustrate how integrated youth systems create athlete pipelines, enhance league sustainability, and support generational continuity. The study contributes to sports management theory by repositioning youth development from a peripheral activity to a foundational structural component.
Pavel Egiazarian (Thu,) studied this question.