The Children-to-Youth Sport Transition Through the Eyes of Norwegian Coaches

In Norway, athletes move from children’s sport to youth sport when they are 13 years old, involving a shift in regulations set by the sport governing body. This study aimed to explore the children-to-youth sport transition (CYT) from the coaches’ perspectives, focusing on how they perceive their athletes’ transition experiences and how they work with them. We conducted semistructured interviews with six Norwegian youth sport coaches working in handball and cross-country skiing, analysing the data using thematic analysis. We identified two umbrella themes: coaches’ perceptions of changes in CYT athletes and coaches’ challenges and strategies working with CYT athletes. Findings show that coaches perceive the CYT as a critical period in young athletes’ lives as they navigate increasing demands in school, sport, and friends. The CYT period is characterised by athletes’ physical, physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that shape their development and relationships. Coaches face challenges in meeting the diverse needs of athletes due to their nonlinear development and varying levels of commitment. To support athletes in both their sport and personal development, coaches focus on creating positive experiences and caring for the whole person. The findings highlight the need for an individualised and holistic approach in coaching CYT athletes.