What do we know (and not know) about adolescent awkwardness in youth sports? A narrative review

Article

Borato, L., Whatman, C., Walters, S. and Read, P. 2025. What do we know (and not know) about adolescent awkwardness in youth sports? A narrative review. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. 20 (5), pp. 2257-2267. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541251364101
TypeArticle
TitleWhat do we know (and not know) about adolescent awkwardness in youth sports? A narrative review
AuthorsBorato, L., Whatman, C., Walters, S. and Read, P.
Abstract

Adolescent awkwardness is commonly referenced in sports science and medicine literature and is believed to impact athletic development and injury risk in youth sports. However, this concept is not well understood, and a literature synthesis has yet to be conducted. The aim of this narrative review was to synthesize and evaluate the evidence for adolescent awkwardness. Specifically, we examined how it has been defined and assessed in a youth sports setting. A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, and SPORTDiscus via EBSCO Health with 21 articles meeting our inclusion criteria. Most authors believe that adolescent awkwardness is a transitory period in which youth experience decreases in coordination and balance, impacting athletic performance and potentially increasing injury risk, yet there is no single accepted definition. There is also no consistency or standardization in the tests used. Measures of balance and lower limb power may be useful for tracking athletic performance across maturation, but their ability to identify a period of adolescent awkwardness appears limited. Some studies observed a decline in sensorimotor function during the growth spurt, while others show continuous improvement or high variability between youth. Cumulatively, it appears that adolescent awkwardness is poorly understood and there is no consensus definition or assessment method, warranting further research.

Sustainable Development Goals3 Good health and well-being
Middlesex University ThemeHealth & Wellbeing
PublisherSAGE Publications
JournalInternational Journal of Sports Science & Coaching
ISSN1747-9541
Electronic2048-397X
Publication dates
Online06 Aug 2025
PrintOct 2025
Publication process dates
Accepted2025
Deposited29 Oct 2025
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541251364101
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