High-performance athletes

The development of high-performance athletes has been well documented with studies investigating predominantly male athletes. There is limited research that provides an understanding of female athletic development and the impacts of high-performance sport on the female body. This chapter aims to identify specific areas for consideration when developing the female athlete. The chapter will examine: female athlete service provision (such as sport science, sport medicine, coaching); the daily training environment; female talent development and talent transfer; female professional sport leagues; and concluding with current concerns in the development of high-performance female athletes. Some content within this chapter is not gender specific, as limited research focusses specifically on female high-performance athletes. Therefore, the chapter highlights the need for specific investigation of the development of high-performance female athletes to ensure current training, competition and recovery practices are designed to enhance the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of the female athlete.