Hot issues and frontier fields of youth sports literacy

To accurately grasp the forefront hotspots and developmental trends in current research on youth sports literacy, we employed the “Web of Science” core collection database to gather 432 relevant literature pieces pertaining to “youth sports literacy”. Using the CiteSpace analysis software and leveraging methodologies such as scientific knowledge mapping, we systematically reviewed and synthesized the literature, ultimately constructing a knowledge structure map that illustrates the research hotspots and cutting-edge trends. The findings of this study reveal that research on youth sports literacy is predominantly concentrated in developed countries and regions such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. The definition and conceptualization of sports literacy represent the fundamental research questions. Research hotspots are primarily clustered around three major themes: Youth sports literacy in relation to public health, physical education, and mental well-being. The emphasis on research frontiers varies across different periods: The period from 2007 to 2012 reflects a focus on psychological promotion; 2013 to 2018 emphasizes holistic physical and mental well-being promotion; and 2019 to 2022 represents a phase centered around health promotion. Overall, a trend towards integrated research in youth sports literacy is evident. The wealth of knowledge clusters and impactful research achievements have laid a robust foundation for the study of youth sports literacy.