Long Term Player Development

“Planning for the sport excellence

and well-being of Canadians.”

Paul Carson

2

The definition of insanity is doing

the same thing over and over again

and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

- 3 -

Lou Holtz, Notre Dame Football

The difference between where

you are today and where you

will be 5 years from now will

be the books you read and the

people you meet.

“A Championship Season”

- 4 -

Hockey Canada’s Vision

"Lead, Develop, and Promote

Positive Hockey Experiences."

Sport Canada Vision

The health and well-being of the

nation and the medals won at major

Games are simple by-products of an

effective sport system.

Canadian Sport for Life

- 5 -

CDM - Player Pathway

Professional

Major Junior (16-20)

Junior A (17-20)

Junior B (17-20)

Midget (15-17)

Bantam (13-14)

- 6 -

Dumb and Dumber (1994)

New Cinema Productions:

There’s always a chance!

- 7 -

Active For

Life

Physical Literacy

Active Start / FUNdamentals / Learn to Train

Comp &

Comp

Rec

HP

Elite

Norris 2000

LTPD - Player Pathway

21

6,0

00

pla

yers

Yelena’s comment . . .

“Gymnastics helped me a lot because

I have power and some speed. I don’t

know how technically right to do

some skills, but I am ready.”

- 9 -

• 19 world records

• 1st woman to clear 5 meters

Impossible is Nothing: Yelena Isinbayeva

Courtesy :Adidas

Shortcomings of the Youth Sport System

Over-competing & under training

Adult programs imposed on children

Preparation geared to short-term outcomes

Knowledgeable coaches at the elite levels

Competition interferes with athlete development

Program integration and alignments

Early specialization is demanded

Male programs for imposed on females

- 11 -

Importance of the LTPD Model

ensures physical literacy

optimizes competition structure

integrates sport at all levels

optimizes training, competition, and recovery

promotes life long physical activity

- 12 -

Late Specialization Sports

Men’s Olympic Team

Goal 32 years

Defense 29 years

Forwards 27 years

Women’s Olympic Team

Goal 28 years

Defense 28 years

Forwards 27 years

- 13 -

The Ultimate Golf Lesson

Courtesy The Golf Channel - 14 -

Skill Development

- 15 - Norris, 2000

Academic Development

- 16 - Gladwell, 2009

Windows of Optimal Trainability

Physical, Mental – Cognitive, Emotional Development

Developmental Age

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20+

PHV

Adapted from Tanner, 1978 & Kahn, 1999

PHV

Suppleness

Skills 1

Stamina

Skills 2

Strength

- 17 -

The Gifted Athlete

Gifted athletes don’t skip steps – they

just move through some development

steps much quick than others

- 18 -

- 19 -

Remember Lou Holtz?

Literature supports LTAD . . .

- 20 -

Predictors of success

• 10,000 hour rule

• Deliberate and specific practice

• The desire to excel

• Repetition, repetition, repetition

10,000 Hour Rule

Kirby Ferguson - 21 -

- 22 -

Initiation Novice Atom Peewee Bantam Midget

Active for Life

Excel

Discovery

Learn to Play

Learn to Train

Train to Train

Train to Compete

Fundamentals

5 9 1511 18 20/22 21/22+

Long-Term Player Development

- 22 -

Train to Win

7 13

- 22 -

Soccer Prodigy

Courtesy: Adidas - 23 -

The Hour: Sidney Crosby

CBC - 2000 - 24 -

8 Stage Model

5 environmental

settings

Active for Life

foundation

Program and

resource alignment

Sport Specific

- 25 -

Final thought . . .

A positive experience in sport is key to

retaining athletes long after they

leave the competitive stream.

- 26 -

Long Term Player Development

“Planning for the sport excellence

and well-being of Canadians.”

Paul Carson