From young aces to injury cases: a qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives on injury risk in junior to elite badminton

Abstract Background Competitive badminton is associated with a considerable burden of injuries, particularly during the transition from junior to elite level (ages 16–20). While the sport's dynamic stroke and movement patterns may contribute to injury risk, the factors stakeholders use to assess injury vulnerability remain poorly understood. However, identifying specific causes and indicators that point to an increased risk of injury is essential for prevention. Given the limited case numbers, combining data driven approaches with stakeholders’ experiential knowledge may enhance risk assessment. This study explores expert judgement and heuristics regarding injury risk assessment as well as options for risk mitigation during the transitional phase. Methods Twenty semi-structured in-person interviews were conducted with national-level stakeholders (9 coaches, 5 athletes, 2 association doctors, 2 physiotherapists, 2 strength and conditioning coaches) between October 2023 and July 2024. The interviews had an average duration of 54.4 min. Thematic analysis helped identify common patterns across assessments. Results Four higher-order themes were identified: Excessive pressure, recovery deficits, unprofessional attitude, and disruptions in training continuity. Six cue families were perceived by stakeholders as informing injury risk assessment: signs of over-motivation, unprofessional attitude, the coaches’ subjective perception (‘coaches’ eye’), upheavals in private life, exposure and signs of wear. While overlaps with the literature were found, stakeholders often downplayed commonly cited objective factors like injury history. Many cues were based on intuitive, experience-driven judgments and were therefore difficult to standardize or quantify. Conclusions Experts relied on relative risk judgments shaped by experience and situational impressions rather than absolute probabilities. Integrating these practitioner-derived qualitative cues with objective data may enhance context-sensitive injury risk assessment during the junior-to-elite transition. By making experiential heuristics more transparent, the findings offer a foundation for developing more targeted injury mitigation strategies in this critical developmental phase. Further empirical validation is required.