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 …

4 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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6 STAGEAGE Active Start0-6 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: (+/-); Female: (+/-) Learning to Compete (“Challenge of Competition”)Male: (+); Female: (+) Training to Compete (“Heat of the Battle”)Male: (+/-); Female: (+/-) Learning to Win (“Consistent Performance”)Male: 20-23(+); Female: (+) 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

7 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.

8 ATHLETICS CANADA LTAD DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY LTAD document written ( ) 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

9 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

10 Pee Wee Track & Off Track Events MenWomenTechnical NotesRationale 60m – indoor and outdoor No blocks At this age the speed window is developed through efforts of 6-8 seconds 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 No blocks200m is a lactic speed endurance activity 600m Aerobic activity should be less than 12 minutes, this is a good short endurance option 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 CountryCross County2km 800m Race Walk This distance meets the developmental needs for aerobic development and also contributes to skill development

11 Pee Wee Field Events MenWomenTechnical NotesRationale High 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 is a key element of the Hershey Program and a good progressive jumping activity Shot Put 3kg or less Ball Throw Ball Throw is a key element of the Hershey Program and a good progression to Javelin Javelin 400g Discus 750g Indoor - 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

12 Bantam Track & Off Track Events Men WomenTechnical NotesRationale 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 m; No blocks The longer distance outdoors allows progresses athletes towards the 100m while maintaining good technique and honouring development al needs 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 No blocks 800m Aerobic activity that is developmentally appropriate and also progresses the athletes from 600m through to 800m 1200m Aerobic activity that is developmentally appropriate and also progresses the athletes from 1000m through to 1200m Cross CountryCross County2km 800m Race Walk

13 Bantam Field Events MenWomenTechnical NotesRationale High Jump Long Jump Regular board Standing Long Jump Shot Put M - 3kg; W- 3kg Ball Throw Javelin 400g Discus 750g – only with a cage 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

14 Midget Track & Off Track Events Men WomenTechnical NotesRationale 60m – 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 300m 60mH – indoor60mH - indoor 100mH80mH W – 12m to first; 8m in between; Height: 0.76m M – 13m to first; 8.5m in between; Height: 0.84m 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 1200m 2000m 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 3km 1500m Race Walk

15 Midget Field Events MenWomenTechnical NotesRationale High Jump Long Jump Regular board Triple Jump 7m or 9m or 11m board Pole Vault Shot Put M - 4kg ;W- 3kg Javelin 600g Discus 1kg 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

16 Youth Track & Off Track Events Men WomenTechnical NotesRationale 60m – indoor 100m - outdoor 60m– indoor 100m - outdoor 200m – indoor/outdoor 200m - indoor/outdoor 300m – indoor300m - indoor 400m - indoor/outdoor 60mH – indoor60mH - indoor 110mH100mH W – 13m to first; 8.5m in between; Height: 0.76m M – 13.72m to first; 9.14m in between; Height: 0.91m 300mH 50m to first hurdle; 35m in between; Height: W: 0.76m; M: 0.84m This distance favours technical development 800m 1500m 3000m 2000m SC Water Jump is in; Barriers W: 0.76m; Barriers M: 0.84m/0.91m Cross Country W – 3km ; M - 4km 3000m Race Walk 5000m Race Walk

17 MenWomenTechnical NotesRationale High Jump Long Jump Regular board Triple Jump 7m or 9m or 11m board Pole Vault Shot Put W- 4kg; M - 5kg Javelin W -600g; M – 700g Discus W - 1kg; M 1.5kg Hammer Optional - W – 4kg ; M – 5kg; OctathlonHeptathlonOctathlon – Day One – 100m, LJ, SP, 400m; Day Two - 110mH, HJ, Javelin, 1000m Heptathlon – 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

18 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)

19 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