Network Magazine summer 2014 | Page 44

athletes, so the model will be scaled back or forward accordingly. The main thing to remember is not to train children too hard or too early, as this increases their likelihood of sustaining injuries, dropping out of the sport and being caused emotional burnout. If you focus the training programs you develop for children to enhance their fundamental motor skills, make it fun, match the difficulty of the motor skills to their abilities and progress their activities along the lines of the recommended long-term athlete development model, then you will be giving them the best chance to reach their peak performance in the sports they participate in. Long Term Athlete Development phases LTAD phase 1: the fundamental stage Estimated age group: boys aged 6 to 9 years and girls aged 5 to 8 years. LTAD phase 3: training to train stage Estimated age group: boys aged 12 to 16 years and girls aged 11 to 15 years. The main objectives are to develop: • fun and play-centred activities • physical capabilities such as fitness, strength, balance and timing • fundamental movement skills for the sport, such as jumping, hopping and throwing. The main objectives are to focus on developing: • physical capabilities to their potential, such as aerobic conditioning • refined fundamental motor skills of the sport. For references read this article at fitnessnetwork.com.au/resource-library LTAD phase 2: learning to train stage Estimated age group: boys aged 9 to 12 years and girls aged 8 to 11 years. Kelly Sumich is the author of Coaching Children: Sports Science Essentials and Kids Exercise Programs Done for You. She is the founder of the Sports Science Education Institute which offers short certification courses in training kids and athletes. sportsscienceeducation.com.au The main objective is to introduce children to the fundamental skills of the sport. In Phase 1 the focus was on developing the basics of fundamental motor skills such as jumping, hopping and throwing. In Phase 2 these skills are transferred into a sporting context. LTAD phase 4: training to compete stage Estimated age group: boys aged 16 to 18 years and girls aged 15 to 17 years. The main objectives are to: • prepare children for competition by designing training programs which help them gain optimal fitness levels • establish a high standard of sportspecific skills. MEMBERSHIP EARN YOUR FREE CEC! Every issue of Network magazine includes an article linked to a FREE 1-CEC exam, which you can complete at fitnessnetwork.com.au/cecs. This quarter, the multiple-choice exam is based on ‘Training kids for sporting development’ and two other online articles by Kelly Sumich. To earn yourself 1 CEC, simply log on to fitnessnetwork.com.au/cecs, click on the FREE tab and select ‘Training Kids & Client Nutrition’ from the list – or choose any other CEC exam you’d like to do. Read the linked articles online, successfully complete your exam, print your certificate and you’re done! For help logging on to the site, please email [email protected] or call our friendly team on 1300 493 832. 1300 493 832 | FITNESSNETWORK.COM.AU/CECS 44 | NETWORK SUMMER 2014