INTRODUCTION: Participation in sport and recreation is a common mechanism for physical activity (PA) among youth. Decades of scientific literature documents participation in sport and PA resulting in positive health outcomes. Despite some literature supporting a relative decline in the number of youth participating in PA generally, studies suggest that over 80% of Canadian youth participate in at least one organized sport, annually. However, the landscape of sport participation in youth in Canada is changing. Increasingly, we note that there are two ends to the sport participation spectrum, one where athletes participate in intense amounts of PA and experience more frequent training, compared to youth at the other end who are less physically active, have low muscular strength and mastery of skills. This dichotomy paints a bleak picture for the physical literacy and overall health in youth, including the athletes that will form the base of athletic programs in the future. Further, and most importantly, literature supports an increase in the risk of sport-related injury at both ends of the spectrum. The objective of this work was to highlight the similarities in physical literacy (PL) and sport injury prevention programming for athlete development, to develop a resource that supports the work of athlete development across sectors, and to discuss opportunities for collaboration for athlete development that includes injury prevention, across the athlete lifespan. METHODS: Practitioners in both elite and recreational sport requested an accessible resource to support both athlete development and injury prevention. An on-line resource that provides evidence-informed injury prevention strategies using an integrated knowledge translation approach was co-created. A framework was used to guide a literature review of over 50 sport and recreational activities, across outcomes consistent with the public health approach to prevention. Key to the process of resource development was engagement with a team of stakeholders including athletes, coaches, and experts in physical literacy, injury prevention and public health. RESULTS: The resource presents summaries of evidence on prevalence and risk factors, as well as effective interventions for sport injury that can be used across sporting activities. The resource presents both the scientific literature as well as resources that support the critical components of both physical literacy and sport injury prevention programming for youth, including neuromuscular training (NMT). CONCLUSION: Active & Safe Central (www.activesafe.ca) is a resource that addresses an identified gap in access to evidence and resources for athlete development. The resource emphasizes the priority for both physical literacy and NMT for athlete development that includes sport injury prevention at an early age. Further, collaboration across sectors including education, elite and recreational sport, and public health is critical for a comprehensive approach to healthy athlete development.
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