Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Centre for Child and Adolescent Physical Literacy
Long-term athletic development (LTAD) practices have been recommended over two decades. However, limited research explores the knowledge and skills required by practitioners to optimise LTAD. Therefore, we evaluated the knowledge, adherence, practices, and challenges of practitioners delivering LTAD programmes.
The situation: Long-term athletic development (LTAD) practices have been recommended over two decades. However, limited research explores the knowledge and skills required by practitioners to optimise LTAD. Therefore, we evaluated the knowledge, adherence, practices, and challenges of practitioners delivering LTAD programmes.
The work: We used a mixed methods survey to evaluate 236 practitioners (e.g., sport coaches, PE teachers) from multiple sports across the world.
The results: Practitioners recognised their responsibility for delivering LTAD and indicated a high adherence, focused upon health and wellbeing, to delivering LTAD programmes. However, practitioners felt they could be better in understanding growth and maturity, monitoring and assessment, and the individualisation of training. Practitioner’s perceived definitions of athleticism and LTAD were also inconsistent, especially for psychological components (i.e., confidence).
Practitioners’ identified two main practices. Firstly, the goals of LTAD were “for life” and “individual”. Secondly, the realities of delivering LTAD included priorities for “variety in programme delivery”, “monitoring development” and “practical challenges”. Eight key practical challenges were identified including governance and priorities, resources, education, early specialization, high training volumes, staff communication, parents, and youth motivation. These novel findings help inform policy to optimise LTAD and support the complex problem of developing a healthier, fitter and more physically active population.
Till K, Lloyd R, McCormack S, Wiliams G, Baker J, & Eisenmann, J. (2022) Optimising long-term athletic development: An investigation of practitioners’ knowledge, adherence, practices and challenges. PLoS One. 17(1): e0262995. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262995.
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