Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) STAGES
The Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model outlines a progression through stages: starting with Active Start (0-6 years) for basic movement, FUNdamentals (6-9 years) for physical literacy, Learn to Train (9-12 years) for sport-specific skills, Train to Train (12-16 years) for specialized training, Train to Compete (16-23 years) for high-intensity competition, Train to Win (19+ years) for elite performance, and Active for Life (any age) for lifelong physical activity.
LTAD STAGES
Active Start Stage Age: 0 to 6 years
- Create the right setting for children to learn and make physical activity a fun part of daily life.
- Help them learn Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS).
- Let them run, jump, climb, and swing — it’s important for their development
Fundamental Stage Age: 6 – 9(M) & 6 – 8(F)
- Focus on developing Fundamental Movement Skills and building overall Motor Skills.
- Encourage multi-sports participation that helps develop agility, balance & coordination.
- Fist Window of Trainability for speed.
- Introduce team games for decision making
- Avoid early specialization
Learn to Train Stage Age: 9 – 12(M) & 8 – 11(F)
- Focus on developing Fundamental Sports Skills.
- Introduce Musculo-skeletal Screening
- General talent identification begins.
- Start specialization to the sports of their choice.
- Integrate physical, mental, cognitive and emotional components within a well-structured program
Train to Train Stage Age:12– 16(M) & 11 – 15(F)
- Regular monitoring of PHV (Peak Height Velocity)
- Develop endurance, strength and speed.
- Develop athletics-specific skills and fitness.
- Further integrate physical, mental, cognitive and emotional aspects, which support performance
- 12 hours per week training, with 4-7 sessions out of which 3-5 sessions event specific.
Train to Compete Stage Age: 16 – 23(M) & 15 – 22(F)
- Optimize fitness, individual skills and performance.
- High intensity individual and event specific training.
- Sports skills performed under competitive conditions
Train to Win Stage-Age: 19+(M) & 18+(F)
- Maximise fitness, individual skills & performance.
- Train to peak for major competitions and perform when it counts.
- Only the very best and most dedicated reach this stage.
LTAD Framework
Why we need a Long Term Athlete Development plan?
The current emphasis on outcome (winning) as opposed to process (skill development) is seen as a setback in the sports system. Such practices may lead to one-sided preparation, early burn out and lost potential or over-training.
Short comings in the current system include;
- Physical Literacy - the foundation for sporting excellence - is not developed in children.
- Young athletes over-compete and under-train.
- Preparation is geared to the short-term outcome of winning, and not to the process
- Chronological age is used in training/competition planning instead of developmental age.
- The most knowledgeable coaches’ work at the elite level while less competent coaches work at the developmental level where quality, trained coaches are essential.
- There is no talent identification system at grass root level.
The development and implementation of an LTAD plan will enable introducing young athletes to fundamental motor skills at an early stage. This provides them with the opportunity to perfect their skills before demanding competitive schedules are introduced and winning becomes an important training outcome. The concept of “Optimal Windows of Trainability " is integrated during which training produces the greatest benefit to each player’s long-term development.