“I lost part of my identity after a sports injury”

Now the University of Bath, in collaboration with Podium Analytics, aims to understand the mental health impact of these injuries to shape future support.

The study, called Young voices in sports, externalwill explore how injuries affect young people’s mental wellbeing, self-identity and their journey back to competitive sport.

Dr Lee Moore, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Bath, said: “Research among elite adult athletes shows that injuries often lead to loss of self-identity, fear of re-injury and anxiety about to lose place in the team.

“Until now the voices of young people have been overlooked.

“By better understanding their experiences, we can better inform coaching practices and help families provide the right support for young people during their recovery from injury.”