Nurturing nature: the greenhouse concept for health and performance

Coaches of multiple Olympic medal-winning athletes have described the ‘greenhouse effect’ as the result of creating a stable and dependable environment to maintain a successful high-performance culture in which athletes can thrive and perform.1 A similarly structured environmental approach is also relevant in the context of holistic support of elite developing athletes, so they not only excel at their sport but also grow into robust and flourishing people. To optimise athlete development and performance outcomes, the maintenance and support of physical and psychological health of an athlete are essential. Therefore, limiting injury and illness (including mental health conditions) requires consideration across an athlete’s development journey.2 Contextual-driven prevention strategies addressing the complex and multifactorial nature of injury and illness occurrence are a part of the socioecological system, which includes individual, sociocultural and environmental levels.3 This editorial proposes an illustration of an integrative and empowering approach to athlete development in any sport aiming to grow an athlete holistically for long-term health and performance. The greenhouse concept (figure 1) highlights the analogy of nurturing elite athletes ( plants ) from the development stage ( inside the greenhouse ) to peak performance ( outside of the greenhouse ), by providing a multidisciplinary supported pathway ( greenhouse with gardeners ) of both stability and challenge.1 Consideration is given to each athlete’s unique contextual and environmental requirements described as greenhouse characteristics for optimal growth and development (just like a plant ) to grow robustness and flourish as an elite athlete. The illustration serves as a facilitator for communication to stakeholders about …