LONG TERM ATHLETE
DEVELOPMENT
An Introduction
Presented by James Marshall
PPPPP
I keep six honest serving men
They taught me all I know
Their names are What, Why and When
And How and Where and Who
Rudyard Kipling
PPPPP
• Talented young athletes need to be helped to reach
the elite level
• A systematic approach to talent identification and
development, led by governing bodies on a sport by
sport basis.
• A single framework that avoids young people overcompeting or specialising in single sports too early
• Co-ordination is key particularly between clubs and
schools, to achieve this
DEVELOPING EXPERT PERFORMANCE
• Using the numbers 5,10,3,48 along with hours, weeks,
years and days create an equation that dictates an elite
athletes training
• 3 hours x 5 days x 48 weeks x 10 years
• It is generally regarded that it takes 10,000
hours or 10 years to develop expert performance
(Bloom,1985; Ericsson,1993)
LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT
(LTAD)
• Achieving truly elite performance is a long
term process – THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS
• Rushing competition = poor preparation
• Western Society has a ‘Peaking by Friday’
philosophy
• Early specialization sports
• Late specialization sports
• Can you identify several early and late
specialization sports?
Long Term Training
• Early Specialisation
Sports
–
–
–
–
–
Gymnastics
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Figure Skating
Diving
Table Tennis
• Late Specialisation
Sports
–
–
–
–
Athletics
Rowing
Combat Sports
Team Sports
Athlete/Player Development
A
G
E
20
High Performance
14
Specialisation
11
Multilateral Development
STAGE 1 – FUNdamentals (6-9 years)
• Individual is involved in a wide range of
sports
• Emphasis is always placed upon FUN and
playing games
• Proper technique of athletic ABC’s
– Running, jumping, throwing
• No periodization – Activities revolve around
the school year
• A specific sport only 1-2 times per week
– Emphasis remains upon Fun and game playing
STAGE 2 – TRAINING TO TRAIN (10-14
years)
• Learn how to train
– Warm up, stretching, hydration, recovery, nutrition, taper
and peak
• Competition vs Training ratio 25% to 75%
• Basic technical and tactical skills of a sport
• Play to win but emphasis is on training process rather
than outcome
• Placed in competitive situations daily but in training
and drills
• Over emphasis upon comp will cause plateau
STAGE 3 – TRAINING TO COMPETE (1418 years)
• 50% 50% split between comp specific training and train
• Hi Individual and sport specific training is provided year
round
• Develop basic and sport specific skills under pressure
• Programmes individualised to a greater degree to
address individuals strength and weaknesses
STAGE 4 – TRAINING TO WIN (18-21
years)
• Fully developed athlete
• Competition vs Training ratio is 75% to 25%
• Emphasis upon optimising competitive performance
• athletes trained to peak for specific competitions
• Training is high intensity and relatively high volume
THREATS TO LTAD
• System of competition is based on traditions and
improvisation
• Talent ID and recruitment neglected
• The best and most knowledgeable coaches work at the
elite level
• Developmental athletes tend not to get guidance
• Support structures at elite levels can’t make up for short
comings in earlier stages
THREATS TO LTAD
• Too much emphasis on competition, especially in team
sports
• Male programmes are superimposed on females and
adults programmes onto children
• We ignore optimal periods of trainability
• Too much emphasis on winning
Peak Height Velocity
12
10
8
Boys
Girls
6
4
2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Peak Height Velocity
12
10
8
Early
"Normal"
Late
6
4
2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
CHANGE YOUR THINKING
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF MANY YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE
EXPERIENCE OF MANY YEARS
Emphases in Strength Development
• Initiation 6-10
•
Body weight, partner weight,
swiss & medicine ball
• Athletic formation 11-14
•
As above, also dumb bells and
cables. Introduce barbell lifting
techniques. Introduce circuit
training. Emphasize core
stability and tendon
strengthening
Add exercise machines. Power
techniques and set training is
introduced. Volume and
intensity are increased.
A fully periodised programme is
introduced.
•
• Specialisation 15-18
• High performance 18+
•
Emphases in Speed/Agility Development
• Athletic formation 11-14
• Coordination through play.
Relays
• Training for acceleration
and quickness.Low
intensity plyometrics.
• Specialisation 15-18
• Specific technique
development. Resisted
running.
• Initiation 6-10
• High performance 18+
• Introduce position specific
speed training
Emphases in Endurance Training
• Initiation 6-10
• Athletic formation 1114
• Specialisation 15-18
• High performance 18+
• Fun and multilateral. Not
stressful
• The length of training sessions
can increase. Longer (3km) runs
can be introduced as can low
intensity medium distance
intervals
• Develop aerobic capacity as a
priority. Sports specific drills
and interval training can be
used to develop both aerobic
and anaerobic endurance
• Increasingly game and position
specific
Emphases in Flexibility Training
• Initiation 6-10
• Athletic formation 1114
• Specialisation 15-18
• High performance 18+
• Static and dynamic. Increased
flexibility through gymnastic
type play
• Introduction of PNF. Take
Growth Spurt into consideration
• As part of your weekly routine.
Becoming individually specific
• Individual and position specific