ATHLETICS CANADA

LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

• Adult training and competition structures are superimposed on young athletes

• Preparation is geared to short-term outcome of winning, not the process

• Chronological ,rather than developmental age , is used in training/competition planning

• Fundamental movement skills and sport skills are not taught properly

• Parents are not educated about LTAD

• Many sports specialize too early in an attempt to attract and retain participants

WHY WE NEED A LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

MODEL

• Optimal development requires balanced training, competition and recovery programming

• A balanced programming approach that should relate to biological development and maturation

• Equal opportunity for recreation and competition

• Programs to be athlete centred, coach driven and administration, sport science and sponsor supported

Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) requires …

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• Develop programs based on developmental age, not biological age

• Are aware of the critical windows of trainability and design programs to maximize athlete’s development

• Develop the 5 S’s (skill, speed, strength, stamina, suppleness)

• Consider the role of Peak Height Velocity (the growth spurt) in training progressions

Coaches who Follow LTAD Principles . . .

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STAGE AGEActive Start 0-6

Fundamental Stage (“Fundamentals 1”) Male: 6-9 (+/-); Female: 6-8 (+/-)

Learning To Train (“Fundamentals 2”) Male: 9-12 (+/-); Female: 8-11 (+/-)

Training to Train (“Building the Engine”) Male: 12-16 (+/-); Female: 11-15 (+/-)

Learning to Compete (“Challenge of Competition”) Male: 16-18 (+); Female: 15-17 (+)

Training to Compete (“Heat of the Battle”) Male: 18-21 (+/-); Female: 17-21 (+/-)

Learning to Win (“Consistent Performance”) Male: 20-23(+); Female: 20-23 (+)

Winning for a Living (“Performing When it Counts”) Male: 23 (+); Female: 23 (+)

Active for Life (“Dealing with Adversity”) Any Age

ATHLETICS CANADA LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

MODEL

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WHAT CHANGES DOES ATHLETICS CANADA

NEED TO MAKE?

• We have already added a program that focuses on fundamental skill development (RJT)

• Currently Pee Wee athletes compete in the same events as Senior athletes

• The current event program of events is not progressive or account for long term athlete development

• The event structure needs to be altered so events are developmentally appropriate

• Event progressions must be added to meet athlete needs.

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ATHLETICS CANADA LTAD DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

• LTAD document written (2005-2006)

• Integrated with all New NCCP courses

• Technical Directors meeting (all provinces March 08) – developed new event structure

• AGM meeting with ED’s and Presidents (May 08)

• Branch meetings with coaches, technical committees and boards (May –Nov 08)

• Technical Directors meeting at Technical Congress – agreement on new events achieved

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ATHLETICS CANADA LTAD IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

• Athletics Canada event restructuring was done in consultation and collaboration with provincial branches

• Implementation over 4 years• Indoor Track events – September 2009• Outdoor Track events– April 2010• Indoor Field events – September 2010• Other Field events – April 2011• Schools (Indoor and outdoor) – April 2012

• Additional discussions regarding World Youth and other international opportunities to be scheduled in the future

• The Royal Canadian Legion has agreed to all event structure changes and will follow our implementation timelines

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Pee Wee Track & Off Track Events

Men Women Technical Notes Rationale

60m – indoor and outdoor

60m – indoor and outdoor

No blocks At this age the speed window is developed through efforts of 6-8 seconds

60mH – indoor and outdoor

60mH – indoor and outdoor

12m to first hurdle; 7.0m between; As low as possible (scissor hurdles); No blocks

At this age the speed window is developed through efforts of 6-8 seconds

150m 150m No blocks 200m is a lactic speed endurance activity

600m 600m Aerobic activity should be less than 12 minutes, this is a good short endurance option

1000m 1000m Aerobic activity should be less than 12 minutes, this is a good long endurance option that also allows the athlete to maintain technical proficiency

Cross Country Cross County 2km

800m Race Walk

800m Race Walk This distance meets the developmental needs for aerobic development and also contributes to skill development

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Pee Wee Field Events

Men Women Technical Notes RationaleHigh Jump High JumpLong Jump Long Jump No board – 1m take off area The large take off area encourages technical

development without requiring the athlete to focus on hitting the board

Standing Long Jump Standing Long Jump Standing Long Jump is a key element of the Hershey Program and a good progressive jumping activity

Shot Put Shot Put 3kg or lessBall Throw Ball Throw Ball Throw is a key element of the Hershey

Program and a good progression to JavelinJavelin Javelin 400gDiscus Discus 750gIndoor - Triathlon

Outdoor - Tetrathlon

Indoor - Triathlon

Outdoor - Tetrathlon

Triathlon - 60-LJ-SP OR 60H-HJ-SP

Tetrathlon 60-LJ-SP-600 OR 60H-HJ-BT-150

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Bantam Track & Off Track Events

Men Women Technical Notes Rationale

60m – indoor

80m - outdoor

60m– indoor

80m - outdoor

No blocks The longer distance outdoors allows progresses athletes towards the 100m while maintaining good technique and honouring development al needs

60mH - indoor

80mH - outdoor

60mH - indoor

80mH - outdoor

12m to first hurdle; 7.5m between; Height - 0.76m; No blocks

The longer distance outdoors allows progresses athletes towards the 100m while maintaining good technique and honouring development al needs

200mH 200mH Start at 200m line, use 400mH spacing - 35m between; Height 0.76m; No blocks

This event allows the development of the rhythm of long hurdling without putting them in a lactic zone

150m - indoor/outdoor

150m -indoor/outdoor

No blocks

800m 800m Aerobic activity that is developmentally appropriate and also progresses the athletes from 600m through to 800m

1200m 1200m Aerobic activity that is developmentally appropriate and also progresses the athletes from 1000m through to 1200m

Cross Country Cross County 2km

800m Race Walk 800m Race Walk

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Bantam Field Events

Men Women Technical Notes Rationale

High Jump High Jump

Long Jump Long Jump Regular board

Standing Long Jump Standing Long Jump

Shot Put Shot Put M - 3kg; W- 3kg

Ball Throw Ball Throw

Javelin Javelin 400g

Discus Discus 750g – only with a cage

Hammer Hammer Optional - M – 3kg; W – 3kg

Indoor - Triathlon

Outdoor - Tetrathlon

Indoor - Triathlon

Outdoor - Tetrathlon

Triathlon - 60-LJ-SP OR 60H-HJ-SP

Tetrathlon - 80-LJ-SP-800 OR 80H-HJ-BT-150

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Midget Track & Off Track Events

Men Women Technical Notes Rationale60m – indoor

100m - outdoor

60m– indoor

100m - outdoor

In a 1 day meet we will limit the number of races; in a 2 day meet an athlete can do multiple events.

The 60 , 100 and 200 are standard events. These events are developmentally appropriate.

The 300m is introduced at this stage so the athletes can be progressively introduced to speed endurance events.

200m 200m

300m 300m60mH – indoor 60mH - indoor

100mH 80mH W – 12m to first; 8m in between; Height: 0.76mM – 13m to first; 8.5m in between; Height: 0.84m

200mH 200mH Start at 200m line, use 400mH spacing - 35m between; Height 0.76m

This event allows the development of the rhythm of long hurdling without putting them in a lactic zone

800m 800m1200m 1200m2000m 2000m1500m SC 1500m SC No water jump; Barriers at 0.76m The water barriers are removed so the skill of hurdling

the steeples can be developed first. This will make the transition to the water jump more successful at the next stage.

Cross Country Cross Country 3km1500m Race Walk 1500m Race Walk

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Midget Field Events

Men Women Technical Notes RationaleHigh Jump High JumpLong Jump Long Jump Regular boardTriple Jump Triple Jump 7m or 9m or 11m boardPole Vault Pole VaultShot Put Shot Put M - 4kg ;W- 3kgJavelin Javelin 600gDiscus Discus 1kgHammer Hammer Optional - M – 4kg; W – 3kg

Indoor - Tetrathlon

Outdoor - Pentathlon

Indoor - Tetrathlon

Outdoor - Pentathlon

Tetrathlon – 60m-LJ-SP-200m OR 60mH-HJ-SP-800m

W Pentathlon – 80mH, HJ, Shot, LJ, 800m*M Pentathlon- 100mH, LJ, Shot, HJ, 1000m*

*Using AC specs not IAAF

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Youth Track & Off Track Events

Men Women Technical Notes Rationale60m – indoor

100m - outdoor

60m– indoor

100m - outdoor200m – indoor/outdoor

200m - indoor/outdoor

300m – indoor 300m - indoor400m - indoor/outdoor

400m - indoor/outdoor

60mH – indoor 60mH - indoor110mH 100mH W – 13m to first; 8.5m in between; Height: 0.76m

M – 13.72m to first; 9.14m in between; Height: 0.91m

300mH 300mH 50m to first hurdle; 35m in between; Height: W: 0.76m; M: 0.84m

This distance favours technical development

800m 800m1500m 1500m3000m 3000m2000m SC 2000m SC Water Jump is in; Barriers W: 0.76m; Barriers M:

0.84m/0.91mCross Country Cross Country W – 3km ; M - 4km3000m Race Walk 3000m Race Walk5000m Race Walk 5000m Race Walk

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Men Women Technical Notes RationaleHigh Jump High JumpLong Jump Long Jump Regular boardTriple Jump Triple Jump 7m or 9m or 11m boardPole Vault Pole VaultShot Put Shot Put W- 4kg; M - 5kgJavelin Javelin W -600g; M – 700gDiscus Discus W - 1kg; M 1.5kgHammer Hammer Optional - W – 4kg ; M – 5kg;

Octathlon Heptathlon Octathlon – Day One – 100m, LJ, SP, 400m; Day Two - 110mH , HJ, Javelin , 1000mHeptathlon – Day One – 100mH, HJ, SP, 200m; Day Two- LJ, Javelin, 800m

• At the Junior level Athletics Canada aligns with IAAF standards

• Exception to the above is the 2000m SC (IAAF = 3000m SC)

Youth Field Events

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ELEMENTS WE ARE STILL WORKING ON ...

• We still have athletes competing by age; some branches have moved to competing by ability level (seed)

• We still need to determine if there will be time limits on Pee Wee and Bantam meets (i.e. must be done in 3 hours)

• We still have to determine how our role in international events (World Youth, etc.) will be effected by LTAD implementation

• Parent education (NSO +PSO + Club + Schools)

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WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT?

• Athletics Canada event structure now based on athlete development

• For the first time events, implement weights and hurdle heights and distances are the same nationwide in each age group

• The phased in approach will allow coaches, athletes, parents and officials to adapt to the changes slowly

• The long term impact on our sport will be significant