Introduction: Sport and motherhood are no longer mutually exclusive. Many athletes are now training throughout their pregnancy and successfully returning to sport (RTS) postpartum. Emerging research provides critical insight into the physical, physiological and psychosocial considerations that play a vital role in an athlete`s return to sport postpartum. Given the significant investment into the development of athletes, it is of national and international interest to develop best-practice provisions that provide the necessary supportive environments for these athletes. As such, this series of studies aimed to develop best practice provisions for sport organisations to support athletes in their RTS postpartum. Methods: A comprehensive 3-phased approach was used. Phase 1 involved a scoping review to identify barriers and enablers that influence athletes to RTS postpartum. Phase 2 involved focus groups and semi-structured interviews with recreational and elite female athletes, coaches and staff to identify barriers and enablers influencing athletes return to sport postpartum. Findings from phases 1 and 2, and an updated literature review, were synthesised to formulate preliminary support provisions. Finally, phase 3 consisted of extensive consultation with key stakeholders (e.g., athletes, high-performance staff, researchers, national and professional sport organisations) to review, revise and finalise support provisions. Results: More than 100 individual best practice support provisions were developed and grouped into 14 main support themes including: Communication (e.g., regular and transparent communication between athletes, coaches and staff as well as consent and confidentiality), Education and educational resources, Support (e.g., appointing a specific support person to assist/support/guide the athlete in their RTS postpartum), Access to health professionals, Facilities (e.g., providing onsite parental amenities), Funding (e.g., providing paid maternity leave/continued funding), Childcare, Travel (e.g., allowing child/ren and designated carer to travel with athlete), Workplace conditions (e.g., recognising motherhood/family demands), Contracts (e.g., contract extensions), Clothing and equipment (e.g., providing athletes with new equipment and training gear including professional fittings to accommodate physical and/or psychological changes) and Event/Team qualification (e.g., requirements for athletes to re-qualify for events and teams). Discussion: A supportive environment is essential for athletes to successfully RTS postpartum. To create a supportive environment, sports organisations must understand the barriers and enablers that influence athletes RTS postpartum. As such, sport organisations can use the findings from this body of research as a blueprint to create a more inclusive and supportive sporting environment, helping female athletes to thrive both as mothers and as competitors. Future research should continue to refine these provisions and explore their effectiveness in diverse sporting contexts. Additionally, ongoing dialogue with athletes and stakeholders will be essential to adapt and improve support mechanisms as the understanding of RTS postpartum evolves. Impact/Application to the field: The development and implementation of these best-practice provisions represent a significant step forward in supporting athletes in their dual roles as mothers and competitors. By addressing the multifaceted challenges of the postpartum period among elite athletes, these provisions facilitate a smoother RTS transition and promote the long-term health, well-being, and career longevity of female athletes. Declaration: My co-authors and I acknowledge that we have no conflict of interest of relevance to the submission of this abstract.
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