From Theory to Practice: Re-Examining Core Postulates of the Developmental Model of Sport Participation 25 Years After Its Inception

Côté and colleagues' Developmental Model of Sport Participation (DMSP) is a comprehensive framework that informs parents,' coaches,' and community stakeholders' understanding of athlete development in sport from early childhood to elite levels. Originally conceptualized in 1999, the DMSP offers a common set of principles through which young athletes' sport involvement can be understood. What remains unknown is the extent to which the model applies to a full range of contemporary youth sport participants. As such, the aim of the present study was to reexamine three core postulates of the DMSP that are challenged by present critiques of the model. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of parents (nmale=4655; nfemale=3512; nnon-binary=22) with youth sport participants ages 6 to 18 in the United States. Group comparisons were conducted across levels of individual and family characteristics to determine whether there were significant differences in athletes' sport involvement, contexts of participation, time engaged, and family spending. Although athletes were more likely to engage in practice over play, unstructured play decreased with age whereas structured practice increased with age. The most highly invested athletes were engaged in more sports and contexts than less invested athletes. Multiple individual, family, and community factors seemed to shape athletes' patterns of sport participation. Moving forward, engaging the broadest range of athletes, families, organizations, and communities in research has the potential to create a more positive and sustainable sports culture for athletes of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.