Systematic review reveals bio-banding enhances leadership and psychological skills in elite youth athletes, suggesting its utility alongside chronological age grouping.
Key Points
Synthesize existing mixed-methods evidence regarding the psychosocial outcomes of bio-banding interventions in elite youth sport talent pathways.
Searched seven electronic databases to identify 12 eligible studies (four quantitative, two qualitative, six mixed-methods) evaluating bio-banding in elite youth sports.
Synthesized findings using a convergent integrated approach adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for mixed-methods systematic reviews.
Identified four analytical themes: enhanced psychological skill visibility and development, leadership opportunities for later-maturing players, constructive challenges for growth, and implementation friction related to terminology and social cohesion.
Bio-banding was qualitatively reported to promote athlete confidence, leadership, self-expression, and psychological skill adaptation, though evidence was constrained by reliance on subjective perceptions and self-report measures.