AIS Best Practice Recommendations to Support Elite Athletes from Preconception to Parenthood.

A comprehensive guide for Australian Sporting Organisations grounded in evidence-based research and best practice.

By leveraging data-driven insights and engaging with stakeholders, these recommendations seek to enhance the wellbeing and performance of elite athletes during the critical life stages from preconception to parenthood. They explain how to create environments where athletes can thrive both personally and professionally, ensuring their health and success are prioritised throughout their athletic careers and beyond.

These world-leading recommendations provide sporting organisations with a comprehensive guide on how best to support elite athletes through preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. Sporting organisations may use these recommendations to improve the level of support provided to elite athletes and/or inform the development of evidence-based pregnancy and parenting policies.

The recommendations were based on an extensive body of research conducted by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and CQUniversity in collaboration with the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS):

• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood
• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood-APPENDIX A
• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood-APPENDIX B
• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood-APPENDIX C
• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood-APPENDIX D
• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood-APPENDIX E
• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood-APPENDIX F
• Best Practice Guidelines - Preconception to Parenthood-APPENDIX G

The recommendations were officially launched in Brisbane with the Minister for Sport Anika Wells and representatives from the AIS, CQU and QAS.

Research Team

• Jasmine Titova (PhD candidate, CQUniversity and AIS)
• Boden Tighe (PhD candidate, CQUniversity and QAS)
• Associate Professor Melanie Hayman (Primary Supervisor, CQUniversity)
• Dr Sue Williams (Co-Supervisor, CQUniversity)
• Professor Margie Davenport (Co-supervisor, University of Alberta)

Further resources

• What support do Australian sporting organisational policies provide to pregnant and parenting elite athletes? A scoping review, opens in a new tab
• Barriers and enablers encountered by elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy: a mixed-methods systematic review, opens in a new tab
• Barriers and enablers influencing female athlete return-to-sport postpartum: a scoping review, opens in a new tab
• Navigating preconception and pregnancy in elite athletes: Insights from Australian elite female athletes, athlete support staff and sport organisational staff, opens in a new tab
• Evidence-based recommendations to support Australian elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy: A modified Delphi survey of elite athletes and key stakeholders, opens in a new tab