This study examines youth physical development in China from a Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) perspective. Chinese research has increasingly moved from short-term performance concerns toward a development-oriented framework that emphasizes stage-appropriate goals, fundamental movement skills, general physical qualities, and the gradual integration of sport-specific training. However, this conceptual progress has not been matched by equally strong implementation. Persistent problems include short-term evaluation, early sport specialization, adult-oriented training practices, fragmented foundational training, and weak links between athlete monitoring and training prescription. This study argues that the central challenge in youth physical development in China is no longer the absence of a developmental framework, but the limited translation of that framework into stable, evidence-informed, and context-sensitive practice.
Liu Qili (Thu,) studied this question.