Cited by 3,093Sports Performance and TrainingSport Psychology and PerformancePhysical Activity and Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 40 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Defining Training and Performance Caliber: A Participant Classification Framework

Open access
McKay, Alannah K.A., Stellingwerff, Trent, Smith, Ella S., Martin, David T., Mujika, Iñigo, Goosey-Tolfrey, Vicky L., Sheppard, Jeremy, Burke, Louise M.·2022·International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

Abstract

Throughout the sport-science and sports-medicine literature, the term “elite” subjects might be one of the most overused and ill-defined terms. Currently, there is no common perspective or terminology to characterize the caliber and training status of an individual or cohort. This paper presents a 6-tiered Participant Classification Framework whereby all individuals across a spectrum of exercise backgrounds and athletic abilities can be classified. The Participant Classification Framework uses training volume and performance metrics to classify a participant to one of the following: Tier 0: Sedentary; Tier 1: Recreationally Active; Tier 2: Trained/Developmental; Tier 3: Highly Trained/National Level; Tier 4: Elite/International Level; or Tier 5: World Class. We suggest the Participant Classification Framework can be used to classify participants both prospectively (as part of study participant recruitment) and retrospectively (during systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses). Discussion around how the Participant Classification Framework can be tailored toward different sports, athletes, and/or events has occurred, and sport-specific examples provided. Additional nuances such as depth of sport participation, nationality differences, and gender parity within a sport are all discussed. Finally, chronological age with reference to the junior and masters athlete, as well as the Paralympic athlete, and their inclusion within the Participant Classification Framework has also been considered. It is our intention that this framework be widely implemented to systematically classify participants in research featuring exercise, sport, performance, health, and/or fitness outcomes going forward, providing the much-needed uniformity to classification practices.

Overview

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TL;DR

The paper proposes a 6-tier Participant Classification Framework to standardize how exercise and sport-science research participants are classified by training volume, performance metrics, and skill level. It aims to replace subjective labels such as “elite” with a flexible continuum from sedentary individuals to world-class athletes, usable prospectively and retrospectively.

Key findings

  • The framework defines Tier 0: Sedentary; Tier 1: Recreationally Active; Tier 2: Trained/Developmental; Tier 3: Highly Trained/National Level; Tier 4: Elite/International Level; and Tier 5: World Class.
  • Reported population estimates include Tier 0 ≈46% global and ≈52% Australian; Tier 1 ≈35%–42% global and ≈30% Australian; Tier 2 ≈12%–19% global and ≈18% Australian; Tier 3 ≈0.014% global and ≈0.027% Australian; Tier 4 ≈0.0025% global and ≈0.0055% Australian; Tier 5 <0.00006% global and <0.001% Australian.
  • Classification should prioritize objective, quantitative information over subjective terminology; for example, “recreationally active” participants with <150 minutes/week activity should be classified as Tier 0: Sedentary.
  • Sport-specific adaptations are provided: team sports are classified mainly by team/league/position; endurance, middle-distance/power, and speed/strength sports can use performance standards; precision/skill, racquet, and combat/weight-making sports likely rely heavily on world rankings.

Methods

  • Conceptual/position paper: the framework was developed by content/discipline experts with elite sport and academic experience, building on prior classification literature.
  • It uses training volume/physical activity metrics, performance standards, skill level, and global/continent-specific population statistics; detailed population calculations are in supplementary material.
  • The paper provides prospective classification guidance, a flowchart, retrospective classification rules (e.g., median tier, higher tier when participants span two tiers, separate cohorts when intentionally compared, “insufficient information” when data are unclear), and sport-specific examples including basketball, track and field, and snowboard.

Limitations

  • Stated: the first iteration focuses on absolute performance rankings untroubled by age; future versions should consider age categories such as junior and masters competition.
  • Stated: the framework was designed with nondisabled participants at the forefront, and classifying Paralympic athletes is more challenging due to impairment heterogeneity, small or fluctuating field sizes, and changing disability classification protocols; future versions should target these populations.
  • Stated and evident: fitness status at the time of testing is not currently accounted for, sport-specific examples are not intended as rigid criteria, and retrospective use may be limited when studies lack clear participant information, leading to an “insufficient information” classification.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1123/ijspp.2021-0451

Cites

39 of 39 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

29 Not checked yet · 25 Own interpretation · 21 No basis given · 1 Own method · 1 Own result

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  • Probably not a substantial claim. 42
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 29
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
54 of 54
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Age plays a role in sports performance through biological maturity, training and competition maturity, and biological decline associated with aging.

    “Age plays a role in sports performance since it can interact with the biological maturity of the young athlete, training, and competition maturity across the athlete's development pathway, and the biological decline associated with aging.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The use and consistency for classifying training status in Paralympic sport remains in its infancy compared to nondisabled sport.

    “Despite the growing interest in Paralympic sport, the use and consistency for classifying training status remains in its infancy when compared to nondisabled sport.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    At IPC sanctioned events, the primary diagnosis of a participant must be stable and belong to one of the 10 impairment types (8 physical impairments, as well as visual and intellectual impairments).

    “It's even more complex, since at International Paralympic Committee (IPC) sanctioned events, the primary diagnosis of a participant must be stable and belong to one of the 10 impairment types (8 physical impairments, as well as visual and intellectual impairments).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Within team sports such as wheelchair basketball, sports classification is based on players' functional capacity to complete the skills necessary to play the sport, and players are allocated points.

    “However, within team sports such as wheelchair basketball, sports classification is based on the players' functional capacity to complete the skills necessary to play the sport, and players are allocated points.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    As with the introduction of any new event, it takes time to build depth within the field to see the best of human performance.

    “As with the introduction of any new event, it takes time to build depth within the field to see the best of human performance.”
5 of 5

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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 41

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Metadata

Authors
McKay, A. K. A., Stellingwerff, T., Smith, E. S., Martin, D. T., Mujika, I., Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L., Sheppard, J., & Burke, L. M.
Venue
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Published
2022-02-01
Volume
17
Issue
2
Pages
317-331
ISSN
  • 1555-0265 (ISSN-L)
  • 1555-0273
OpenAlex
W4206651290
Cited by
3,093
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 1002 · 2025: 871 · 2024: 632 · 2023: 402 · 2022: 155
FWCI
296.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
training status, training volume, performance indicators, recreational athletes, national athletes, world-class athletes, participant recruitment, gender parity, youth athletes, masters athletes, Paralympic athletes, terminology standardization
MeSH terms
Humans, Retrospective Studies, Sports, Sports Medicine, Exercise, Athletic Performance, Athletes

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