Long-term athlete DEVELOPMENT PLAN for rowing AN OVERVIEW www.rowingcanada.org We acknowledge the financial support of Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du the Government of Canada through gouvernement du Canada par l’entremise de Sport Canada, a branch of Sport Canada, une direction générale du the Department of Canadian Heritage. ministère du Patrimoine canadien. contents table des matières Foreword 4 Avant-propos 30 Introduction 5 Introduction 31 Why do we need LTAD? 6 Pourquoi avons-nous besoin du DLTA? 32 The 10 Key Factors Influencing LTAD 8 Les 10 facteurs principaux influençants le DLTA 34 Trainability 10 Capacité d’entraînement 36 Stages of LTAD 12 Les phases du DLTA 38 RCA Long-term Athlete Modèle de développement Development Framework 13 des participants de RCA 39 Active Start 14 Enfants actifs 40 FUNdamentals 14 S’amuser grâce au sport 40 Learning to Train 15 Apprendre à s’entraîner 41 Training to Train 15 S’entraîner à s’entraîner 41 Learning to Compete 16 Apprendre à faire de la compétition 42 Training to Compete 17 S’entraîner à faire de la compétition 43 Training to Win 17 S’entraîner à gagner 43 Training to Win 2 17 S’entraîner à gagner 2 44 Active for Life 18 Actif pour la vie 44 Practical Implications of LTAD 19 Implications pratiques du DLTA 45 Implementation 22 Mise en œuvre 48 Conclusion 23 Conclusion 49 Glossary of Terms 24 Glossaire 50 Selected Bibliography 25 Bibliographie 51 Appendix 1 26 Annexe 1 52 Long Term Athlete Development Modèle de développement à long terme pour Model for Canadians with Disabilities les participants ayant un handicap Appendix 2 27 Annexe 2 53 Sport Canada: Sport Canada : Strategic Leadership for Sport Leadership stratégique pour le sport Acknowledgements 28 Remerciements 54 ROWING CANADA AVIRON 3 foreword he concept of LTAD has grown out of a recognition of the many gaps in athlete talent identification and development in the current Canadian sport system, a system that has been built in haphazard layers over time, that has a strong reliance on vol- tunteer initiative and intuition combined with elements of sport science and coaching education, and that, by design, has had to focus more on short-term needs rather than on the long-term health of sport and lifestyle programming. However, with the agree- ment by the major sport funding partners in Canada to better align and integrate their financial and human resources into a com- prehensive Canadian Sport Policy,the opportunity to create clear building blocks for sport development has arrived,with LTAD being one of the key structural elements in a new Canadian sport system. LTAD is the product of many years of research and analysis into athlete development models throughout the world.The Canadian version uses the core concept of “a training, competition, and recovery program based upon developmental age – the maturation of an individual – rather than chronological age” but takes into consideration the unique nature of the Canadian sport system and cul- ture. Many national sport organizations are now involved in the further customization of this model to meet their athlete develop- ment needs and are taking this opportunity to re-examine the myriad of support services provided to support such development. For Rowing Canada Aviron,the implementation of LTAD provides a clear path for athlete and program development throughout the country, it reflects the unique nature of athlete development in rowing, and it identifies the most appropriate methodologies and structures to support both excellence in performance and life-long benefit to individuals who are touched by this sport. It is clear that we must be cognizant of somewhat polarized objectives in Canadian sport – we expect excellence from our athletes in Olympic Games and world-class competitions, yet we must also recognize the importance of individual participation in rowing for personal growth. LTAD allows both these priorities – it provides a measured approach to individual development, whether that be toward competitive or recreational goals. For true world success we, as an organization, must be prepared to embrace a more systematic approach to athlete development, as the other world leaders in the sport have done. LTAD gives us the framework to build a truly competitive program within the real- istic confines of our budget capabilities. I commend our LTAD volunteers for their insight and leadership in bringing this project to fruition and I look forward to working with them and our membership to ensure that this model has the impact that it deserves within our programming. Ian Moss Executive Director Rowing Canada Aviron “ love of sports is one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children. And being active for life is a joy that more A Canadians deserve to experience. Without realizing it, my parents followed their own version of a long-term athlete development model for rowing as they exposed me to a fabulous variety of water sports, including swimming, canoeing, sailing, and rowing a row boat at the cottage. As a result, I’ve always loved being in and around water and when I tried crew rowing for the very first time, at age 21 at McGill University, it felt so natural, easy, and fun that I couldn’t believe it was a sport.” Alison Korn, two-time world champion and two-time Olympic medallist 4 LONG-TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PLAN sport skills – by participating in a wide variety of sports and physical activity when they are young. A solid foundation of movement skills and fitness is critical for everyone, especially athletes partici- pating in late-specialization sports such as rowing. LTAD also contributes to health and a life-long enjoyment of rowing and other physical activity.We should be reassured that children do not need to start rowing early (that is, before 11 to 16 years of age) in order to excel. In fact, early specialization in rowing can harm long-term development. LTAD defines a clear, seamless development pathway. It gives coaches, administrators, clubs, and others involved in rowing a clear understanding of how they can best support the athletes for whom they are responsible.And it gives athletes a clear idea and understanding of what they need to do and when they need to do it in order to excel at the elite level. LTAD will • establish a clear and consistent development pathway for rowers. • guide the examination of the current system to identify strengths, gaps, and inconsistencies. • guide coaches in planning training, racing, and recovery programs that are consistent with the principles of growth and maturation, allow athletes to achieve optimal performances, and encourage them to stay in the sport for life. • guide coaches in developing remedial programs for late-entry rowers. • improve recruitment and development of early- entry rowers. • help Canadian rowers to perform better and more consistently at the elite level, across pro- ntrodu tion grams, and from year to year. i c This overview • describes the principles on which LTAD is based. • identifies critical periods of accelerated TAD is about making sure that athletes get optimal adaptation to training and how these relate to rowing. training, competition, and recovery throughout their • outlines the LTAD framework for rowing, including the Lcareer in order to allow them to objectives, key outcomes, and elements for each stage. • reach their athletic potential. • highlights some of the practical implications for regattas, • enjoy life-long participation in rowing and other physical equipment, clubs, athletes, parents, recruiting, and how and activity. when to learn to row. Training, racing, and recovery programs are based on an athlete’s • outlines some of the steps needed to implement LTAD. developmental age rather than chronological age and are designed The overview focuses on the optimal development pathway to optimize development during critical periods of accelerated for an athlete who starts rowing between 11 and 16 years of age. adaptation to training. LTAD also takes into account the physical, We recognize that in Canada, many athletes come to rowing rel- mental, emotional, and cognitive development of all participants. atively late in their development. Similarly, we recognize that LTAD recognizes that athlete development is long term – there adaptive rowing is a growing element of the sport and should be are no short cuts. Children need to build physical literacy – the encouraged and supported.The specific needs of late-entry and mastering of fundamental movement skills and fundamental adaptive rowers will be addressed in subsequent documents. ROWING CANADA AVIRON 5 Why do we need LTAD? Canadian rowers have excelled on the world stage and Canada is considered a strong rowing nation. So why do we need LTAD? In short, we need it so that we continue to excel. Successful athletes LTAD will also who want to con- contribute to tinue to do well domestic develop- must continue to ment. It can help learn and improve. If clubs address issues their development such as stops, they will get • how to attract beaten. people to rowing and The same is true retain them. for the Canadian • how to provide rowing system. We effective and enjoy- must continue to able programs for learn and improve if all rowers. we want to remain • how the regatta successful. As well, system can meet the success of Canadian rowers at the international level has not the needs of rowers across Canada and at all stages of been consistently strong across years and across programs.There development. have been ebbs and flows, and some programs have had more consistent success than others. What can we do to reduce the • what programs should be developed to encourage athletes ebbs and make all our programs consistently strong, year after with a disability.