Developmental-stage and sex patterns in perceived importance of youth basketball shoe functions: A parent-proxy survey

This cross-sectional, parent-proxy online survey quantified caregiver-perceived functional priorities for youth basketball shoes across four developmental-stage groups (3–6, 7–9, 10–12, and 13–15 years). Caregivers rated the importance of shoe functions on a 1–10 scale and selected their top three considerations. Responses were summarized at three levels: composite outcomes (Protection, Performance, and balance index [BI = Performance – Protection])) = Performance – Protection), functional domain scores, and item-level Top-3 selection rates. A total of 1,128 questionnaire submissions were received through WeChat-based dissemination, and 986 responses were retained for analysis after screening. Within each age group, boys and girls did not differ in composite outcomes or domain scores (all p > 0.05). In contrast, age-group effects were evident within each sex for Protection, Performance, and BI and across all five domain-level outcomes (all p < 0.001). BI moved toward zero with increasing age, indicating progressively closer weighting between performance-support and protection-oriented priorities in older groups. At the domain level, impact cushioning remained highly rated across stages; stability/control and propulsion/forefoot function increased with age; comfort/adherence rose in the oldest group; and traction/braking showed stage-specific reordering. Item-level forced prioritization converged on a stable core—cushioning, traction, and breathability—with age- and sex-stratified shifts in ordering and limited subgroup-specific substitution (durability entering the Top-3 in 13–15-year girls). These findings delineate caregiver-perceived, stage-stratified functional priority profiles for youth basketball footwear based on parent-proxy importance ratings and forced-choice prioritization.