A Professional Tribute to The Pioneer & Architect of LTAD

Istvan Balyi (1942-2024)

In the past, I have posted a column called Sunday Gratitude. The end of the week often offers some time for reflection. And, although in our mind we think of being grateful for others, we often do not express it.

Today, Sunday January 26, 2025, I want to express my gratitude to a man - Istvan Balyi - that I never had the privilege of meeting or knowing personally, but whose professional contributions have had a profound impact on my work and the field that we refer to as ‘long-term athlete development’ or LTAD. Like peanut butter and jelly or Batman and Robin, Balyi and LTAD are inseparable.

Here, I want to merely share a brief biography of the history and contributions about this pioneer and chief architect of LTAD.

Again, not knowing Istvan personally, I do not know some of the details that others who worked closely with him may share. But as a sort of historian of LTAD, I have come to know Istvan’s journey beginning in Hungary. During the period of the Cold War (1952-1988), Eastern European (Soviet bloc) countries dominated Olympic sport. Some have attributed this athletic success to the scientific approaches in athletic development, strength & conditioning, and sports science. This also included the identification and development of talented youngsters for national competition through a systematic system - i.e. long-term athlete development.

Balyi and the Contemporary Model of LTAD

Balyi is credited, rightfully so, with popularizing the concept of LTAD. In the early 1990s, he moved to Canada and served as the resident sport scientist at the National Coaching Institute in Victoria, British Columbia, and subsequently with Canadian Sport for Life. [Learn more here: A Brief History of Sport for Life]

In 1995, Balyi proposed a four-stage model of training which included: FUNdamentals, Training to Train, Training to Compete, and Training to Win. This model was then further developed into a seven-stage model in 2005 and is the one commonly used by sporting organizations around the globe.

The model is underpinned by 10 key factors:

1. Physical Literacy

2. Specialization

3. Developmental Age

4. Sensitive Periods

5. Mental, Cognitive and Emotional Development

6. Periodization

7. Competition

8. Excellence Takes Time

9. System Alignment and Integration

10. Kaizen - Continuous Improvement

Another important aspect seen in the graphic above is that it is both a performance pathway and a participation pathway. Most previous models focused on the performance aspects of identifying and developing athletes for national success. But given the current physical inactivity, obesity and chronic disease problems, it is equally important, if not more so, to consider sport as a vehicle for an active, healthy lifestyle in which all individuals remain active throughout their lifespan.

Essentially, the aim of the model is to “square the pyramid,” so that individuals place an importance on physical activity throughout their lifespan, and not just during youth through adolescence. In addition, this model also encourages positive participation in sports as an informed parent, coach, official, or administrator.

Worldwide Impact

During the early 2000s, Balyi began consulting with national sporting organizations throughout the world. It has been tallied that he facilitated LTAD in more than 20 countries - and certainly inspired other LTAD models elsewhere. I cannot even imagine how many coaches and athletes have been touched by this work. Wow, what an impact!

“Istvan was a pioneer, a thought leader, a catalyst for change.” -Richard Way, founding CEO of Sport for Life Society (Quote taken from A Brief History of Sport for Life]

Selected Published Resources

Despite the popularity of the Balyi LTAD model, there is little published literature in mainstream journals. Instead, most publications were in coaching newsletters and thus hard to locate.

• Balyi, I. & Way R. (1995). Long-term planning of athlete development: The training to train phase. B.C. Coach, 2-10. [Probably the most cited reference for the Balyi LTAD model]

• Balyi, I. (1998, September). Long-term planning of athlete development: The training to train phase. FHS: The UK’s Quarterly Coaching Magazine, 1, 8–11.

• Balyi, I. (1998, December). Long-term planning of athlete development: The train to compete phase. FHS: The UK’s Quarterly Coaching Magazine, 2, 8–11.

• Balyi, I. (1999, May). Long-term planning of athlete development: Multiple periodisation, modeling and normative data. FHS: The UK’s Quarterly Coaching Magazine, 4, 7–9

• Balyi, I. (2001, summer). Sport system building and Long-Term Athlete Development in Canada. Coaches Report: The Official Publication of the Canadian Professional Coaches Association, 8(1), 25–28.

• Balyi, I. & Hamilton, A. (1999, April). Long-term planning of athlete development: The training to win phase. FHS: The UK’s Quarterly Coaching Magazine, 3, 7–9.

• Balyi, I. & Hamilton, A. (2003). Long-Term Athlete Development: Trainability and physical preparation of tennis players. In M. Reid, A. Quinn, & M. Crespo (Eds.). Strength and conditioning for tennis (pp. 49–57). London, United Kingdom: International Tennis Federation.

• Balyi, I., Way, R., Higgs, C., Norris, S. & Cardinal, C. (2005). Canadian sport for life: Long-Term Athlete Development [Resource paper]. Vancouver, Canada: Canadian Sport Centres.

Fortunately, the totality of his ideas of LTAD was published in book format in 2013, creating the ultimate resource.

• Balyi I., Way R., Higgs C. (2013). Long-Term Athlete Development. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Video Lectures

I mentioned that I never met him, nor did I see a live presentation. I have found a few YouTube video lectures.

Moving Balyi’s Legacy Forward

Istvan Balyi certainly laid the groundwork and provided a framework for long-term athlete development. However, there is continued concern for and attention towards the issues of youth sports, the general physical preparation of youth, and physical illiteracy that can be resolved by LTAD. In honor of Istvan’s legacy of work in LTAD, it is time to take action and implement the principles and framework as a path towards optimal health and performance from cradle to grave.

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Istvan Balyi (July 23^rd, 1942•December 3^rd, 2024) | Obituary, Photo Gallery and Memory Wall here

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