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To prevent burnout, Athletics Kenya mandated Periodised Rest for all U-18 athletes on August 15, 2025—requiring 2 full rest weeks per quarter, with no structured training. Rest isn’t idle time—it’s when champions grow, said youth coach Grace Adhiambo. Pilots in Rift Valley showed 57% drop in overuse injuries. Parents and coaches received toolkits on active recovery (e.g., play, art, light hiking). World Athletics endorsed the model for its Youth Guidelines. All national youth camps now enforce rest blocks.