Long Term Athlete Development

This is essentially a summary of my presentation last Friday at the NSCA Sport Specific Conference in Nashville. I think there is some food for thought here. In my opinion now we are selling our kids short, we need to rethink the whole process. I hope this will get people thinking and more importantly acting in their communities.

Problems & Concerns

Chronological age dominates training and competition from ages 11 to 16

“Critical Periods” are not recognized by coaches

Low training to competition ratio in early training ages

An adult competition schedule is imposed on children

Competitive calendar governed by tradition rather than growth and development and pedagogy

Adult training programs are imposed on children

Male programs are imposed on females

Very little sport science, sports medicine input in youth training programs

Costs & Results

Training at the beginning level focuses on winning rather than the process

Young developmental athletes over compete and under train

Fundamental motor skills are under emphasized and ultimately limit sport skill

Damage done at early developmental ages cannot be corrected

Recommendations

Reinstitute mandatory daily Physical Education in the schools  - NOW – Make it physical and educational

Stop trying to identify the athletically gifted and give them all the gift of athleticism

Give the games back to the kids – Minimize adult and parental involvement

More Play Days - Fewer Leagues and Tournaments

Put play back into play 

Every kid will not win a scholarship or sign a pro contract - For every Freddy Adu & Lebron James there are thousands who are not playing anymore! Even if they make the professional level there is not a pot of gold there for everyone, the median income for all professional athletes in the US in 2004 was $48,000!

Final Thoughts

Participate in a variety of sports and activities

Do NOT try to ‘hurry up’ the developmental process

Do NOT specialize too early

Were good life skills taught?

 

 

Comments

[Joanthan Hewitt]

That median is still higher than the median for those who fix these athletes in the Athletic Training room. We diagnose, treat, rehab and condition these athletes back to play.

[tim sullivan]

Awesome post. $45,000 what is the life line on that number? I play on the weekends for pizza and rootbeer, where winning is a gentleman's game.