Long Term Athlete Development

1. Long Term Athlete Development Sarah White Surrey Sports Partnership

2. Comments on present sports system? “Sport in the UK has evolved like a patchwork quilt……. it is difficult to suggest fundamental change without taking the whole thing to pieces and starting again“ Ian Elvin, 1993 “If I am ever asked again how long it has taken me to understand theBritish sport system, my reply will be: I will let you know if I ever do.“ Dennis Whitby 1999“What you are saying is that the present system is a b***** mess!!” Istvan Balyi 2001

3. We are left with! • Young athletes under-train, over-compete. • Low training to competition ratios in early years. • Adult competition superimposed on young athletes. • Adult training programmes superimposed on young athletes. • Male programmes superimposed on females. • Training in early years focuses on outcomes (winning) rather than processes (optimal training). • Chronological age dominates training rather than biological age. • Under development between 6-16 years cannot be fully overcome (athletes will never reach genetic potential). • The best coaches are encouraged to work at elite level. • Coach/Teacher education tends to skim the growth, development and maturation of young people.

4. Sports System set for change • UK Sport Governing Body modernisation reviews • NGB’s as custodian of their sport • Whole and One Sport Plans • Coaching Task Force • Focus on Physical Activity • Focus on School Sport

5. Background • Evolution of Athlete Development Models • Work of Istvan Balyi, Cote and others • LTAD is not new or a panacea……but • Built upon consensus of scientific research • Reflects applied knowledge & experience of coaches from around the world • Packages complex phases of child/adult development into a simple & flexible model

6. Key LTAD principles • Athlete centred approach • Makes full use of the critical or sensitive periods of adaptation (growth spurts) • Focuses on the need to develop PHYSICAL LITERACY in all young people • Recognises Training – Competition – Recovery ratios i.e. Athletes need a life • Takes 10 to 12 years training to reach elite level • Some sports require early specialisation • Model is flexible to meet needs of each sport

7. Long Term Athlete Development Building Pathways in English Sport Source: NCTC, Ireland

8. What people have said……. “What Istvan is advocating now is what we as national coaches were trying too implement 20 years ago but we never had the logistics or resources to do it properly.” (Tom McNab, WC Advisers Seminar, April 2002) “This knowledge base has been around for a long while and has a sound scientific basis. In simple terms it is what I would call a good PE programme linked to a high quality and progressive sports development programme”. (Margaret Talbot, Stakeholder Workshop, Nov. 2002) “For Swimming, Long Term Athlete Development is our weapon of mass instruction! The implications of implementing LTAD within our sport are far reaching and provide a dynamic force for change and sustainable development at all levels from learn to swim to WC elite”. (Di Bishop, NASD Seminar, April 2003)

9. LTAD Key Issue The critical, fundamental phase is often overlooked by coaches, teachers and parents, who focus on competition and winning rather than the acquisition of basic skills and fitness Balyi 2001

10. LTAD Principles – Sport Categories EARLY SPECIALISATION SPORTS* Gymnastics, Figure Skating, Diving, Table Tennis andSwimming* LATE SPECIALISATION SPORTS * Athletics, combative sports, Cycling, Rowing, team sports. *4 stage model *5/6 stage model * Cusp of early specialisation

11. For late specialization sports specialization before age 10 is not recommended since it contributes to early burnout, dropout and retirement from training and competition Harsanyi, 1985

12. LTAD MODEL BY ISTVAN BALYI(2002 – Late Specialization Sports) Chronological age5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27+ FUNdamental Stage Learning to Train* Training to Train Stage Training to Compete Stage Training to Win Stage Key stages of learning & development

13. Istvan Balyi - LTAD Model Stage 1 FUNdamentals Stage 2 Learning to train Stage 3 Training to train Stage 4 Training to compete Stage 5 Training to win Stage 6 Retirement / Retainment

14. FUNdamental Movement Skills Phase • Chronological Age: Male 6-9 years & Females: 6-8 years • FUN, participation and child centred “playful environment” • Focus on general overall movement skills development • ABCs of Athleticism – Agility, Balance, Co-ordination & Speed • Own body strength games/exercises • Semi-structured programme • Physical activity 5-6 times per week (note: definitions!) • Simple rules and ethics of sport Movement Literacy

15. FUNdamental Sport Skills Phase(Learn to Train) • Chronological Age: Males 8-12 years & Females 8-11 years • FUN and develop range of basic sports skills (L to T) • Major focus on skill learning and movement mastery • Introduction and ideally mastery of all basic sport skills • Own body strength games/exercises • Introduce ancillary capacities (e.g. warm-up) and thinking skills • Training to Competition ratio 70 : 30 (e.g Festival & Challenges) Sports Literacy

16. Sport Selection & Talent Detection Training to Train Phase • Chronological - Biological Age: • Males 12-16 years & Females 11-15 years • FUN, developing fitness and consolidating sport specific skills • Major fitness development opportunities e.g. aerobic & strength • Monitor growth spurt and musculo-skeletal evaluations (during PHV) • Further develop ancillary capacities and mental skills • Introduce technique of free weights near end of phase • Training to Competition ratio 60:40

17. Specialisation & Developing Potential Training to Compete Phase • Chronological - Biological Age: • Males 16 - 18+ years & Females 15 - 17+ years • FUN, fine tune the engine and developing advanced sport specific skills • Event and/or position-specific physical conditioning • Event and/or position-specific technical and tactical preparation • Modelling skills under different competitive conditions • Optimise ancillary capacities and advanced mental preparation skills • Physical activity example – 9/12 sports specific sessions plus rest/recovery/regeneration programme including alternative activity

18. Expert Performer & Realising Potential Training to Win Phase • Chronological Age: Males 18+ years & Females 17+ years • Maximise and integrate all physical and technical capacities • Further develop advanced technical, tactical and mental capacities • Focus on modelling all possible aspects of training and performance • Focus on recovery/regeneration • Maximise ancillary capacities e.g. nutrition, warm up, taper etc • 25:75 Training/Competition ratio • Sports specific technical, tactical and fitness training

19. Review of LTAD key features • Flexible and child/athlete centred approach • Staged approach with progressive and sequential phases to maximise potential • Well planned training, competition, recovery and lifestyle regime • “Windows of trainability” and accelerated adaptation act as “road map” for coaches • Cater for early and late developer • Avoid “peaking by Friday….every week!” • Its about optimum development & reaching full genetic potential (10 years+)

20. Win Win Outcome Sport Performance Lifelong Physical Activity Participation Physical Literacy