Long Term Athlete Development; LTAD

Overview

It is our hope that by implementing Long-Term Development (LTD) processes and programs in British Columbia youth baseball, we provide a centre for discussion and planning, a vision to change our baseball culture and a vehicle to launch effective change in the way we develop players from the Active Start phase through BC and Canada to the elitist levels or the Active for Life phase.

(Baseball Canada to update to LTD soon...)

LTAD is a systemic approach being developed and adopted by Baseball Canada and Baseball BC to maximize a participant s potential and involvement in our sport. The LTAD framework aims to define optimal training, competition and recovery throughout an athlete s career to enable him/ her to reach his/her full potential in baseball and as an athlete. Tailoring a child s sports development program to suit basic principles of growth and maturation, especially during the  critical  early years of development, enables him/her to reach their full potential and increase lifelong participation in baseball and other physical activities.

The LTAD model is split into stages in which a player will move from simple to more complex skills and from general to baseball-related skills. For example, a beginner may start by learning basic throwing and hitting actions and then progress onto more advanced skills once mastered.

This framework will set out recommended training sequences and skills developments for the participant from the Active Start stage (5 and under) to the Active for Life stage (adult recreational). It will address the physical, mental, emotional and technical needs of the athlete as they pass through each stage of development.

Where has it come from?

A combination of recent research and the knowledge of coaches from around the world are used to write the LTAD model. The program will be sport-science supported and based on the best data and research available. Our work is based on the work of Canadian sport scientists, such as Istvan Bayyi, and focuses on key, common principles of individual development, which many sports organizations consider good practice in long-term planning for athletes.

Many leading sports stars have attributed part of their success to participating in different sports and activities at a young age by giving them a wider base of sports skills. Our goal is to develop players to their maximum potential by training and enhancing all athletic skills that contribute to their success.

During the first years of baseball, the emphasis will be on physical literacy. Time should be spent learning the ABC S of athleticism (Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed) to teach children how to control their bodies. This may involve exercises that do not look baseball-related but support development. Games and other sports will teach your child to throw the ball (basic actions), catch it (hand-eye coordination), and run properly.

At each stage the child will be trained in the optimal systems and programs to maximize their potential as a ballplayer and long-term participant in sport.

Baseball BC aims to provide children with the skills needed to take part in physical activity throughout their lifetimes, looking beyond winning games today to avoid detrimental effects on future participation. Early baseball-specific training can lead to dropout, muscle imbalances and neglect of fundamental skills needed for most sports. Research shows that early specialization in most team sports can result in these outcomes.

Research also shows that childhood is a peak period for learning physical skills. Therefore, coaches and parents are advised to teach transferable skills first to enable proficiency in multiple sports and increase lifelong physical activity. For example, learning to catch and throw a ball can open avenues to other ball sports.

The Council of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Sport has endorsed implementing LTAD across sport in Canada. Sport Canada collaborates with National Sport Organizations to develop…