Long-Term Athlete Development Model
Purpose
This guide was created as a tool for coaches, clubs, volunteers, officials, professional staff, facility managers, and parents. It is meant to serve as a guide to assist skaters with their skating experiences from beginners to competitors. In part, the guide:
- Outlines the sport-specific skill expectations athletes at each stage of development
- Outlines both vertical and lateral progression, with a view of retaining individuals longer in our sport
- Emphasizes general physical literacy as well as personal development
- Clarifies the critical role played by Skate Canada coaches at all stages of development
- Provides an overview of how all stakeholders fit together into a collaborative whole, with a common goal of helping athletes in their pursuit of personal excellence
- Provides a framework for key decision-marking with respect to competition structure, program design, individual short and long-term training plans, infrastructure, rules and regulations.
Factors in Athlete Development
There are 10 interrelated factors influencing long-term athlete development that are common to all sport organizations:
- At least 10 years to reach the top
- Physical Literacy
- Specialization
- Developmental age (growth, development, maturation)
- Windows of optimal trainability (5 S’s)
- Physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional development
- Periodization: planning, training, competition and recovery
- Domestic competition review
- System alignment and integration
- Continuous improvement
For a full copy of this guide please download: Skate-Canada-LTAD-Model-EN.pdf
In Pursuit of Excellence: Skate Canada’s Guide to Long-Term Athlete Development is for the benefit of all members and is rooted in the philosophy of “skating for life” and being active for life.