Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Early Sport Specialization in Elementary School Badminton Players

The purpose of this study was to analyze stakeholders’ perceptions of the timing of early sport specialization among elementary school badminton players. Participants included two coaches, six parents of elementary, middle, and high school players, and two professional team athletes selected through heterogeneous stratified purposive sampling. Data were collected through two rounds of focus group interviews and analyzed using meaning unit extraction, coding, and categorization. The results showed that early sport specialization was perceived as beneficial for technical skill acquisition and performance improvement, but also as potentially causing physical burden, psychological pressure, and difficulties in balancing academic demands during childhood. In addition, stakeholders emphasized that stable early specialization requires coaches’ professional expertise, family support, and institutional support from schools and local communities. These findings provide foundational data for policies on early sport specialization and athlete development support systems.