MAKING GOOD IDEAS HAPPEN IN SPORT
WORLD SQUASH FEDERATION DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN IT STARTS WITH A GREAT IDEA…
2 PRESENTATION SNAPSHOT
• OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION • ABOUT THE CHANGING CANADIAN SPORT SYSTEM • LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT • HOW SQUASH CANADA HAS IMPLEMENTED LTAD • BEST PRACTICES IN SPORT
Baseball Canada – Rally Cap Program
Tennis Canada – Building Tennis Communities
Tennis Canada – Progressive Tennis
Tennis Canada – Rogers Rookie Tour
Tennis Canada – Little Aces Program
3 DANNY DA COSTA - BIO
Coached Canada at 2002 World U12 Team Tennis Championships to 6th place finish
Provincial, Regional and National Team Touring Coach
Tennis Canada – Tennis Development Centre (TDC) Leader
2009 Finalist – Canadian Tennis Professional of the Year
2008 and 2009 Finalist for Tennis Canada Facility of the Year
Development Coach & Consultant to Steven Diez (Canadian Davis Cup Team and 2009 European Champion and Spanish National U18 Champion). #253 ATP
Member of the Canadian Olympic Committee
4 CANADIAN SPORT SYSTEM
Sport in Canada is organized by Sport Canada (Federal Government Agency) who provides funding support to qualified National Sport Organizations (NSO’s) primarily based on 2 factors:
1. High Performance Excellence (60%) – World Championships, Olympic Results 2. Sport Development (40%) – LTAD, Membership, Participation, Coaches & Officials
4 KEY DRIVERS FOR CHANGING THE CANADIAN SPORT SYSTEM:
1. Canadian Sport Policy – (Introduction to Sport, Recreational Sport, Competitive Sport, High Performance Sport and Sport for Development)
2. Own the Podium – Targeted funding for Olympic sports and individuals with medal potential
3. CS4L Movement – Movement to improve system development and coordination of sport
1. Long Term Athlete Development Model – Canada’s model for athlete development
5 CANADIAN SPORT FOR LIFE (CS4L)
Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) is a movement to improve the quality of sport and physical activity in Canada through improving athlete training and better integration between all stakeholders in the sport system.
6 WHAT IS LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT?H
• Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is Canada’s philosophy for sport development
• Recognizes international best practice and research
• LTAD is a 7 stage model for training, competition and recovery for individuals at all stages
• Implemented across all sectors of Canadian Sport (67 sports): elite sport, community sport and recreation, school system and physical education in schools as well as through the Canadian Sport Policy
• LTAD gives new and developing players and parents a clear “path” to follow with key “markers/benchmarks” that link age and skill to competition
• Ensures physical literacy1 upon which excellence can be built Physical Literacy: competency in fundamental motor skills and fundamental sport skills
7 KEY ISSUES FACING SQUASH CANADA?
There are several key issues facing Canadian squash at the moment. Some of these include:
Reductions in Canadian Federal Government Funding
Declining/stagnate player populations – fewer players, coaches and officials participating/certifying across all levels in Canada
The sport’s responsiveness to changes in the new Canadian Sport System
Reliance on partners to develop and increase participation at the grassroots level
Fragmented Player Development structure in place nationally – little coordination
Olympic Readiness? Will we be ready for 2020 if it happens?
No sustained growth outside of major metropolitan areas – No Community Strategy
8 HOW SQUASH CANADA IS IMPLEMENTING LTAD ACROSS ALL LEVELS?
To address some of the key issues Squash Canada has undertaken the following initiatives to implement LTAD across all levels of its organization:
• Developed a resource guide “Beyond the Nick” & implementation plan
• Conducted high performance & competitions review(s)
• New squash in Canada strategic plan which is aligned with LTAD
• Established high performance standards and training competencies
• Establishing a centre of excellence, talent identification and community strategies
9 LTAD EXAMPLES – SQUASH CANADA
ACTIVE START Male & Female (0 – 6 yrs.) Fitness and movement skills development
Males (6 – 9 yrs.) Females(6 – 8 yrs.) Primary focus is fundamental movement / motor skill development – agility, FUNDMENTALS balance, coordination and speed
Males (9 – 12 yrs.) Female (8 – 11 yrs.) LEARN TO TRAIN Acquire overall sport skills for athletic development, play 3 different sports
Males (12 – 16 yrs.) Female (12 – 15 yrs.) TRAIN TO TRAIN Build an endurance base, develop speed and strength towards the end of the stage, further develop & consolidate sport specific skills, play 2 sports
Male (16 – 23 yrs. +/-) Female (15 – 21 yrs. +/-) varies on each sport TRAIN TO COMPETE Optimize fitness preparation and sport, individual, and position specific skills and learn to compete internationally, specialization (1 sport)
TRAIN TO WIN Male (19 +/-) Female (18 +/-) Varies by sport and based on national and international data, Podium finishes
ACTIVE FOR LIFE Enter at any age lifelong physical activity and participation in sport
12 11 SQUASH CANADA EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
LEVEL OF PLAY TRAIN TO WIN M – 19 yrs. +/- EXCELLENCE & F – 18 yrs. +/- HIGH TRAIN TO COMPETE PERFORMANCE M – 16 to 23 yrs. +/- F - 15 to 21 yrs. +/- TRAIN TO TRAIN M – 12 to 16 yrs. F – 11 to 15 yrs. INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEARN TO TRAIN M – 9 to 12 yrs. F – 8 to 11 yrs. FUNDAMENTALS M – 6 to 9 yrs. BEGINNER & F – 6 to 8 yrs. INTERMEDIATE ACTIVE START M & F – o to 6 yrs. ANY LEVEL OF ACTIVE FOR LIFE M & F – any age PLAY
Squash Canada recommends appropriate racquet & ball for each stage of development in LTPD 17 13 CLUB PROGRAMMING
LTAD INTEGRATION – WHITE OAKS TENNIS ACADEMY
HOST: 2014 Women’s World Team Squash Championships
14 15 16 17 18 19 RALLY CAP PROGRAM
20 WHAT IS RALLY CAP?
RALLY CAP is a nation-wide program developed by Baseball Canada in 2006
It was developed to enhance a players first experience with the game of baseball.
Players participate in a combined practice/game structured events
Utilizes Karate’s belt system to show athlete progression in Baseball
Program contains six skill levels. At each level there is a specific cap colour. (White, Grey, Black, Green, Blue and Red).
Alters the format of traditional Baseball by allowing fewer players playing to ensure more repetitions which leads to greater skill development
Teams play a modified game of baseball with modified rules in order to master skill development
21 GOALS OF RALLY CAP
22 STRUCTURE OF RALLY CAP
23 24 TRADITIONAL BASEBALL VS. RALLY CAP
Traditional Baseball Rally Cap Traditional Baseball 3 outs are required to end Everyone bats then their ½ inning is over a ½ inning MODIFIED RULES Scoring is made only when a runner (batting Same, however rally cap allows the defensive team) touches home plate team to score points on defensive (catch fly ball, throwing out a runner out at a base); 6 possible defensive points each inning MODIFIED SCORING Traditional baseball outs are if defensive team Out in rally cap is throwing to any base before catches the ball in the air, throws to first base the runners advances to 1st. or to the base the player is trying to advance to or is tagged out Outs at 1st base can only be made by running to and touching 1st base before hitter reaches the base. Walks, strikeouts, stealing bases and advancing Rally cap does not permit walks, strikeouts, to bases apply stealing and runners can only advance on batted balls.
25 26 27 TENNIS CANADA - PROGRAMS
28 TENNIS CANADA PARTICIPATION PROBLEM …
• From 1995 – 2002 tennis participation dropped as much as 23% (aged 12 & up)
• The first 3 stages of LTAD pathway were under developed
• Tennis programs and infrastructure were not organized in major markets
• Tennis wasn’t accessible to families
• There were a number of facility closures across Canada
• Poor international performances with the exception of doubles
As a result Tennis Canada initiated the Building Tennis Communities, Tennis Development Centre Program and other initiatives to grow the participation rates across Canada
29 BUILDING TENNIS COMMUNITIES (BTC) – COMMUNITY STRATEGY
OBJECTIVE: To increase/sustain tennis participation and to use tennis as a vehicle to address community needs across Canada
GOAL: To goal is to bring more people into the game of tennis and to keep them playing for life - facilitating growth and sustainability
• BTC is Tennis Canada Community Strategy which was developed in 2000 • In 2006, 76,000 Canadians were introduced to the game of tennis in 11 Provinces & Territories in 48 communities across Canada • Today over 120 communities across Canada • Tennis Canada provides funding assistance (Grants between $1,000 - $4,000 per year) for up to 3 years • Community Team Tennis – combines practice & Play in a league format
30 COMPONENTS OF BTC STRATEGY
The BTC strategy is based on 3 key components in order to building a Healthy Tennis Community:
1. COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS: Person or group who are passionate about tennis and are well connected to other community leaders in his/her city or town. Role is to ensure strong partnerships with community leaders Educate community leaders in the role tennis can play in contributing to the reduction or elimination of community problems and improving community spirit (Sport for Development)
2. COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Community leaders are important in maintaining the health of tennis in a community Community Champions establish partnerships with various groups and leaders Community Champions are the primary link with various community partners and host a “Community Tennis Rally” where various partners discuss the benefits of tennis to a community as well as to develop an action plan
3. TENNIS PATHWAY: Consists of four components on a continuum: TRY, LEARN, PLAY & COMPETE Each component can be put into action through various programs and activities depending on community needs Try (single demo/event) / Learn (series of lessons) / Play & Compete (leagues / tournaments)
31 PROGRESSIVE (KIDS) TENNIS…
32 WHAT IS PROGRESSIVE (KIDS) TENNIS
Progressive Tennis is a developmental tool to allow children to improve tennis skills faster so they can transition to the regular court with more ease.
Progressive Tennis allows youngsters to train and compete with courts and equipment which are better suited for their size.
Program is geared for children between the ages of 5 – 12 The program uses modified equipment (Tennis Balls, Racquets, Nets and Courts) As kids progress they move toward traditional teaching methods which allows for easier transition to full court
In Canada there are 3 Progressive Stages: 1. Half-Court Tennis (5 – 7 years old) – RED 2. ¾ Court Tennis (7 – 9 years old) – ORANGE 3. Full Court Transition ( 9 – 10 years old) – GREEN
33 ROOKIE TOUR EVENTS
Tennis Canada Initiative for children between the ages U8 – U16. The initiative was designed to bridge the gap between entry level tennis and provincial competitive tennis. In Canada thousands of players participate in Rookie Tour events each year.
FORMAT: • U8 / U10 (non-elimination events) – round robin or draw with no scores recorded • U12 – U16 (round robin/draw format) scores are used in provincial/national rankings • Matches are based on time and/or score (in U8/U10 - 10 min rotations) and in U12 – U16 matches they are 30 or 40 minute matches or first to 10 games (pro-set w/no ad scoring) • All events are one day (usually b/w 4 – 5 hours to complete)
AWARDS CEREMONY: • Awards ceremony for all children in U8 / U10 – competitors all receive medals and certificates of participation • U12 – U16 events, the Top 4 receive prizes • All participants receive a player package (t-shirt, towel, wrist band, video card)
SKILLS COMPETITION: • All progressive Tennis events (U8/U10) have a skills competition (trivia, rules, technical/tactical skills i.e., throwing or rallying with a pro) • Tennis Canada uses the skills competition for Talent Identification, player traction and data mining
34 LITTLE ACES PROGRAM – COMMUNITY TENNIS INITIATIVE
Very Similar to the BTC strategy
BTC Strategy is entrenched in smaller centres whereas, Little Aces strategy targets major Canadian markets
Focused on organizing the Sport through “Clustering” of community activity
Utilizes progressive tennis play formats
Focused on the first 3 stages of LTAD
Builds strategic pathway links
Incorporates physical literacy and social development skills
Targets Grades 1 – 8 (primary school aged children)
Created a Minor Tennis League
35 MISSISSAUGA LITTLE ACES COMMUNITY PILOT
• Canada’s 6th largest City (37th largest suburb in the world) with a population of 730,000 • 2 Indoor Tennis Facilities • 25 – 30 Public Tennis Facilities (Seasonal clubs & courts) MAJOR ISSUE: Partners worked independently and lack collective LTAD Pathway Clarity
36 ABOUT THE LITTLE ACES PILOT
• Program was built through establishing partnerships with Provincial Tennis Associations, Municipalities, School Boards and community tennis clubs
• The program was launched in a Canadian Tire Parking Lot as a Municipal Tennis Festival.
• Free Tennis Days were offered across the City
• Mini-Tennis Equipment was made available for purchase at Canadian Tire & Walmart – equipment allows tennis to be played in driveways at on the street/homes
• Programs were offered for children and families (6 – 8 weeks) at participating clubs
• Tennis Canada worked with school boards to include tennis in Phys. Ed. Curriculum (training provided to teachers and students)
• Mississauga Minor Tennis League was launched with Municipal Parks & Recreation Dept. (team-based recreational playing opportunity and format) – alternative to other team sports
• Talented children brought to the Tennis Development Centre – for further training
37 LITTLE ACES PROGRESS TO DATE
• 25% tennis growth over the past 4 years in Canada • Several new major markets have launched • 200 new instructors trained • 50 new elementary schools trained – 20,000 kids • 20% increase in junior participation in Mississauga • Talent recruitment occurring annually • Road tennis kits available in big box stores nationally
Challenges include creating seamless pathway links, governance, finding/sustaining community champions
Tennis Canada has a long term goal to activate and sustain 25 major markets by 2016 and beyond
38 THE END… Q & A
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