LTAD around the World: a resource guide

Apr 30, 2023

Like sports science, Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is not a new concept - and actually grew out of sports science.

As for a definition …. many scholars and practitioners will give you varying definitions primarily centered around a process of developing movement competency, physical literacy and health- and skill-related physical fitness with an emphasis in childhood and adolescence.

Here, I provide a very short historical perspective along with LTAD resources from around the World.

The Agoge

One might trace its roots back to Ancient Sparta, where young males were placed into in a rigorous education and training program known as the “agoge,” with the aim being to produce strong warriors for the Spartan Army. This was done through a staged approach starting with an initial training period during childhood and adolescence until entering the reserve status for two years, before finally gaining full status into the Spartan legions. So, the simple concept of a staged approach to development that we seen in modern day LTAD models has been around since ancient Greece.

GTO and the Soviet Sport Schools

In 1931, the Soviet Union initiated the GTO (Gotov k Trudu i Oborone – Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR). A major impetus for this initiative was national pride and dominance in industry, military and sport - a physical culture.

From the assessment batteries of physical fitness, youth were selected for regional and national sport schools. Here, these aspiring Olympians were trained for sporting excellence to be attained in young adulthood. The results - from 1952-1992 the USSR was either 1st or 2nd in total medal count in every winter and summer Olympic Games. Recently, Putin re-instated the GTO (see website).

For a detailed account see: Sport in Soviet Society: Development of Sport and Physical Education in Russia and the USSR. J Riordan

Long Term Athletes’ Development (LTAD) – A Pathway and Planning Tool for Elite Performance. A.R. Vorontsov, Ph.D., National Performance Director/Head Coach, Russia

Eastern Bloc influence

Other Eastern Bloc nations also adapted similar structures, including two of my favorites from Bompa and Drabik.

From Childhood to Champion Athlete. Tudor Bompa

Children and Sports Training: How your Future Champions Should Exercise to Be Healthy, Fit and Happy. Jozef Drabik

A comparative view of talent selection for sport in two socialist states - the USSR and the GDR - with particular reference to gymnastics. Hartley, G. (1988). In The Growing Child in Competitive Sport. Leeds: The National Coaching Foundation, pp. 50-56.

Balyi and the Contemporary Model of LTAD

Around the time of the collapse of the Iron Curtain, Istvan Balyi, a native Hungarian, moved to Canada and began work with the National Coaching Institute. Balyi used his methods and lessons from Eastern Europe sports science and LTAD to develop 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 the current seven-stage model in 2005. The modification and widespread interest in the LTAD model was prompted by a poor finish in the 2004 Olympics by the Canadians attributed to a decaying national sports system.

This movement resulted in the formation of Canada Sport for Life.

LTAD goes global

In the early 2000s, Balyi began consulting with national sporting organizations in England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. This led to adoption and modification of the Balyi LTAD model by many other countries / national sporting bodies.

🇨🇳China | The Medium and Long-Term Development Plan of Chinese Football (2016-2050)

🇿🇦South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee

🇦🇺Australia | Foundations, Talent, Elite and Mastery

🇮🇪Ireland

Ireland | Green Shots Basketball Ireland

Ireland | The Application of a Long Term Athlete Development Model in Irish Football

🇬🇧The Great British Medalists Project: A Review of Current Knowledge on the Development of the World’s Best Sporting Talent

English Swimming Coaches' Views on the (Swimming) LTAD in Practice: Interpreting and Implementing the Long Term Athlete Development Model:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scotland

🇺🇸USA | The American Development Model

🇪🇸The Spanish "Century XXI" academy for developing elite level basketballers: design, monitoring and training methodologies

🇬🇷Greece | Organization of the Greek athletic Schools