Long-term athlete development

Have you ever heard a parent say that their 8-year-old child needs to follow a specialized training program to become an elite athlete? It’s a phrase that can be heard in any sports environment, but the best way to ensure optimal development of an athlete’s skills is through Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD).

Long-Term Athlete Development is a model developed by the Canadian federal government that illustrates the right moments for athletes to progress in a sport.

The model is based on the physical, mental, emotional and cognitive development of children. It divides an athlete’s progression from more general (simple) to more specific (complex) skills into stages.

1) Active child

• Boys and girls: 0 to 6 years
• Enjoyment and integration of physical activity into daily life and introduction to the fundamentals of movement.

2) Fun through sport

• Boys: 6 to 9 years
• Girls: 6 to 8 years
• Learn the fundamentals of movement and build general motor skills

3) Learning to train

• Boys: 9 to 12 years
• Girls: 8 to 11 years
• Learning basic sports skills

4) Training to train

• Boys: 12 to 16 years
• Girls: 11 to 15 years
• Develop aerobic endurance, speed and strength while continuing to develop sport-specific skills.

5) Competition training

• Boys: 16 and over
• Girls: 15 and over
• Develop fundamental physical qualities to optimum effect and learn the art of competitive performance

6) Training to win

• Boys: 19 and over
• Girls: 18 and over
• Optimize physical preparation and individual (personalized) training to enhance performance

7) Working life

• This stage can begin at any age
• Transition to lifelong regular physical activity (maintenance of healthy lifestyle habits)

The Long-Term Athlete Development model focuses on growth, maturity, youth development, training response and sport system integration.

It is important that children develop their skills and participate in activities that correspond to their stage of development. Opting for a consistent approach to athlete development provides a clear development pathway for athletes, parents and coaches, while maximizing the athlete’s potential.

Early specialization in sports does not help children to develop as harmoniously as possible. The consequences are manifold:

• Reduced motivation
• Giving up sport
• Injury

Several studies show benefits of sports diversification in youth: the best athletes often played more than one sport when they were young, rather than concentrating on a single sport.

MonClubSportif encourages sports associations and schools to respect the long-term development of the athlete. Our sports organization and sports team management software facilitates communication between parents, coaches and players in order to follow the athlete’s progress and respect his or her path.