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?