Table 1. Summary of practical recommendations.

Area	Practical recommendations
Transition	• Extra support to help them prepare for and cope with the challenges and changes of moving into a sports-friendly school environment
Integration	• Aligned staff in academic, athletic, and psychological/psychosocial support areas, who work together to support and care for the student-athletes holistic development • An integrated/structured timetable for sport and education
Academic/ Vocational	• Support network providing a consistent demonstration of the importance of education • A collaborative academic support system (coaches, teachers and other staff members) • Dual career officer • Extra personal academic support e.g., extra-tutoring • A structured academic curriculum
Athletic/Physical	• High quality, qualified coaches • Sport science support team (i.e., S&C, physio, nutritionists) • High standard of fixtures and matches • High volume/frequency of training • Multi-dimensional training programmes (incorporating technical, tactical, physical and psychological variables) • Injury prevention schemes (e.g., S&C programmes, monitoring of individual workload, recovery strategies, modifying external training variables to achieve a desired internal response, programme malleability and athlete education, extrinsic factors via the use of protective equipment, and implementation of rules and regulations) • Work in tandem with wider sporting organisations in an integrated effort to balance student-athletes training schedules and develop aligned athlete-focused training plans and goals
Psychological/ psychosocially	• Careful management of performance pressures • Holistic approach to coaching • Encourage and advocate for role models/leadership • Encourage community learning • Encourage positive peer support • Additional social and psychological support to help student-athletes deal with the emotional response to injury