Junior Sport Framework
The Junior Sport Framework (JSF) is a resource that aims to assist all sporting organisations, to build safe, fun, quality and inclusive environments for the delivery of junior sport.
By developing a junior sport policy based on the JSF, sporting organisations will encourage the best possible sporting experiences for young people at all levels - whether they are involved recreationally or competing at an elite level. It also encourages links between sporting organisations, schools and government sport and recreation agencies to ensure a consistent approach for junior sport growth and delivery in Australia.
The JSF comprises three components:
- Briefing Papers - 11 research papers on issues related to contemporary Australian junior sport
- Guidelines - 9 guidelines to assist sports to interpret the research by providing best practice recommendations for contemporary Australian junior sport
- Toolkit - a suite of templates, tools and checklists developed to assist sports when developing and implementing their junior sport policy.
The JSF was developed with the intention that it be regularly updated as new research and ideas become available.
National Sporting Organisation are encouraged to use the three components of the JSF to develop their own sport-specific junior sport policy and are able to modify the JSF to suit their sport needs.
To find out more about whether your sport has a Junior Sport Policy, contact your National or State Sporting Organisation.
Junior Sport Framework - Briefing papers
It is important that decisions made about junior sport are based on the most current research available. The briefing papers are a series of papers about areas of junior sport that are important in ensuring positive sporting experiences for young people. The briefing papers have been written by Australian and International academics recognised as experts in their fields.
The briefing papers are a resource for sports providers to assist them in making informed decisions on junior sport delivery based upon contemporary research. They were last updated in December 2006.
Topics include:
- Historical, cultural and social perspectives of junior sport
- Trends in sport and physical activity in Australian children and youth
- Growth and maturation in juniors
- Opportunities and pathways for beginners to elite to ensure optimum and lifelong involvement
- Physical activity pedagogy for junior sport
- Health and welfare of junior sport participants
- Coaching and officiating for junior sport participants
- Preparation of personnel responsible for junior sport delivery
- Legislation related to safe and appropriate junior sport delivery
- The function of delivery systems at national, state and local levels
- Junior sport models representing best practice nationally and internationally
For a hardcopy of the briefing papers, please order Junior Sport Matters from the AIS Online Shop.
Junior Sport Framework - Guidelines
The Guidelines contain a contemporary view of junior sport informed by the research contained in the briefing papers. They were written by experts on issues related to the delivery of junior sport and input was also provided by a wide range of major stakeholders in Australian junior sport. The Guidelines will assist in the delivery of best practice in junior sport, designed to encourage young people to make a life-long commitment to sport. Each Guideline contains information vital to the topic, a summary of key points and examples of strategies that can be employed to achieve best practice. Suggested resources are also listed and case studies are used to illustrate important features of the topic. Each guideline is available in PDF form below.- Forming_Links (
PDF - 71.8 KB)
- Getting_Involved ( PDF - 89.8 KB)
- Law ( PDF - 90.9 KB)
- Long_Term_Involvement ( PDF - 65.8 KB)
- Making_Sport_Safe ( PDF - 77.5 KB)
- People_Making_It_Happen ( PDF - 106.4 KB)
- Physical_Growth_and_Maturation ( PDF - 68.8 KB)
- Quality_Coaching ( PDF - 84.4 KB)
- Sport_Pathways ( PDF - 76.6 KB)
Junior Sport Framework - Toolkit
The JSF Toolkit consists of a suite of tools, templates and checklists which are designed to assist sporting organisations to develop, implement and monitor the progress of the implementation of their junior sport policy. [ASC3] Junior Sport Framework Template and Checklists The Junior Sport Framework NSO Template has been developed for NSOs to assist them in preparing/updating their junior sport policies. It provides a starting point for the development of a policy and outlines the range of options to be considered in order to tailor the policy to the specific needs of the organisation. The two checklists have also been prepared to assist in the development of strategies for best practice junior sport delivery; one designed for clubs and one for NSOs. They are intended for use in conjunction with the guidelines and will assist clubs and NSOs to identify areas with in their junior sport delivery where they are achieving best practice and areas they need to develop and improve.- Club Checklist (
MS Word Document - 538.0 KB)
- NSO Checklist ( MS Word Document - 506.0 KB)
- NSO Template ( MS Word Document - 93.0 KB)
