FUNdamentals	To learn FUNdamental movement skills
Learning to Train	To Learn FUNdamental sports skills
Training to Train	To build fitness and specific sports skills
Training to Compete	To refine skills for the specific event or position
Training to win	To maximise performance in competition
Retainment	For athletes/players retiring from competitive sport, aiming to keep them involved in physical activity.

 

 

This stage underpins all aspects of an individuals subsequent development in sport and physical activity.  Some participants may only want to participate in sport for no other reason than to socialize or stay healthy, while others may have a desire to progress and achieve success at the highest levels.  Whatever path the individual takes, the benefits of a good grounding in fundamental movement skills are essential.

 

All development stages within LTAD should be well structured and retain an element of fun, however, these two qualities are particularly relevant to this stage.  Children and young people should be encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities, this should help to enhance their physical literacy and their capacity to undertake long term, sport specific training programmes.

 

It is vital that coaches know how children and young people develop, and working at this stage must understand general principals and issues relating to childrens growth and development, and the implications for their own coaching programmes.

 

Participation in other sports activity three or four times a week is essential and should be encouraged for the subsequent development of the child.  The general principal here is that three activity sessions per week will maintain levels but young participants may need at least four sessions to achieve optimum development.

 

Recommendations for a practice plan at this stage may include the following elements:

 

Endurance speed and power can be developed at this stage through the use of appropriate fun and active games.  In terms of endurance, during the stage, the aerobic systems trainability is good.  Fun activities and games with an aerobic component are therefore appropriate to use, and could involve:

 

 

For more information on LTAD, visit www.sportscoachuk.org, or attend the Introduction to Long Term Athlete Development workshop (click here for details of when this workshop is available)