athletesteering

Athletesteering is a multidisciplinary practice within sports management and coaching that guides an athlete's development, decision-making, and career trajectory through structured, data-informed processes. It integrates coaching, sports science, performance analytics, psychology, and ethics to support athletes from youth to professional levels.

The field encompasses training program design and periodization, competition planning and scheduling, talent identification and recruitment, contract and sponsorship negotiations, media and public relations, health and injury prevention and rehabilitation, mental skills development, and welfare and safeguarding. It emphasizes collaborative planning among the athlete, coaches, analysts, medical staff, agents, and family or guardians.

Methods commonly used include data collection from wearables and performance sensors, video and biomechanical analysis, and AI-driven scenario modeling to compare potential training and competition options. Decisions are made through structured reviews, goal setting, risk assessment, and transparent governance mechanisms that protect athlete autonomy and well-being.

Ethics and governance address informed consent, data privacy, conflicts of interest, and safeguarding against coercion or manipulation by sponsors, teams, or other stakeholders. The framework seeks to balance competitive advantage with fair play, athlete welfare, and long-term career sustainability.

Historically, athletesteering has grown alongside advances in sports analytics, performance science, and professional athlete management. It overlaps with but remains distinct from traditional coaching, sports management, and talent development by centering the athlete's strategic agency and holistic well-being.

See also: sports analytics, athlete development, coaching, sports governance.