How pathways work

Overview of how age bands (U13-U23), competition tiers, and national governing bodies fit together. Explains typical progression from school or community clubs to academy squads, junior leagues, U-20/U-23, and senior entry.

Global umbrellas and championships

Scope note for the world’s headline youth structures and finals that anchor scouting calendars and selection for national teams. Covers qualification logic, roster rules, and how results map to senior pathways.

• Ice hockey - CHL umbrella -> OHL/WHL/QMJHL; CJHL; MHL (Russia); J20 Nationell (Sweden); U20 SM-sarja (Finland); USHL/NAHL (USA)
• Football - Premier League 2; U-19 Bundesliga; Primavera 1; Division de Honor Juvenil; U-20 Copa Libertadores
• Basketball - EuroLeague ANGT; AAU circuits; national U18/U20 leagues
• Rugby union - Top 14 Espoirs; Craven Week; New Zealand U19 competitions; Rugby Europe U18 Championship
• Cricket - ICC U19 World Cup; Cooch Behar Trophy; ECB County U18/U19; Pakistan U19 One-Day Cup
• Field hockey - EuroHockey Junior Championships; Hockey India Junior Nationals; Sultan of Johor Cup
• Equestrian - FEI Youth, Junior, Young Rider Europeans and Worlds
• Fishing - CIPS junior Worlds; B.A.S.S. High School/College; MLF College/High School
• Orienteering - IOF JWOC (Junior Worlds); EYOC (European Youth)
• Golf - IMG Junior World; U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls' Junior; R&A Boys' and Girls' Amateur
• Cycling - UCI Junior and U23 Worlds; Nations' Cup U23
• Kayaking and paddling - ICF Junior and U23 Worlds across Sprint, Slalom, Marathon, Wildwater, Canoe Polo; IDBF Junior Worlds; ISA/ICF junior SUP categories

Scouting pipelines

How talent ID works at each stage: open trials, regional centers, school and club recommendation, combines, invite camps, video scouting, cross-border showcases. What evaluators look for, common benchmarks, and ethical contact rules.

Training and development resources

Age-appropriate skill frameworks, physical development and maturation, periodization across in-season and off-season, injury prevention, and return-to-play. Links to open curricula, coaching certifications, and athlete self-assessment checklists.

Grassroots entry points

First-touch routes for new athletes and late starters: school leagues, community programs, learn-to-play schemes, and festival days. What to expect on costs, equipment, safeguarding checks, and volunteer roles for families.

Eligibility and age bands

Cutoff dates, relative age effects, wild-card and dispensation policies, dual eligibility, international clearance, amateur status. How age categories align with school systems and national team selection windows.

Calendar and key windows

How the junior season maps to major tournaments, trials, transfer or registration windows, academic exams, and recovery blocks. Guidance on planning peak phases without overloading.

Player movement and status

Rules on registrations, loans, call-ups, and cross-border transfers for minors. Training compensation and solidarity basics where applicable, waiver processes, and maintaining eligibility for school or collegiate play.

Education and dual-career

Balancing timetable, travel, and competition with schooling. Study-support models, tutoring, exam accommodations, university pathways, and how scholarships interface with eligibility rules.

Safeguarding and wellbeing

Standards for safe environments: background checks, code of conduct, travel protocols, reporting channels, mental health resources, nutrition for youth athletes, and anti-doping education suitable for juniors.

Data, video, and analytics

Best practices for match filming, consent and privacy, simple metrics by position, growth tracking, wellness logs, and how to package clips and reports for scouts without overspecializing too early.

Funding and access

Cost drivers by stage, grant and scholarship types, equipment pools, host-family/billeting standards, and travel subsidies. How to assess true program value and avoid pay-to-play pitfalls.

Parents and new coaches

Practical guides on communication with staff, training loads, red flags to watch for, supporting autonomy, and building positive performance habits at home and on the road.

Academy systems hub