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10 Key Factors of LTPD
T
he Pickleball Association of Ontario (PAO) is
pleased to announce the creation of a Long-
Term Player Development (LTPD) framework,
which will be a blueprint for all stakeholders
involved with players of all ages. They have done this
with the support of their funding partner, Ontario Trillium
Foundation, as part of a national initiative in which every
sport in Canada has developed a similar model. The
implementation of LTPD is a milestone for pickleball and
for Canadian sport. For the first time, every Canadian
sports organization is planning around a common
framework, which aligns the sport system and integrates
health and education with sport and physical activity.
Pickleball experts developed the following guidelines,
with the assistance of Sport for Life, and drawing on
the experience and best practices of other sports. They
outline the key principles of the LTPD framework for
pickleball. The details of how LTPD will be implemented
will be developed in future phases. The successful
implementation of LTPD will lead to better and more
skillful players and a thriving sport supported by quality
coaches, officials, and volunteers at all levels in Canada.
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The FUNdamentals
Basic physical literacy is the foundation for
later athletic success. All athletes, regardless
of their sport, are more likely to succeed if early in life
they developed a wide range of movement, balance and
object control skills.
Specialization
Broad-based skills and abilities must be
developed first. Premature specialization (prior
to age 12-14) may contribute to lack of essential skill
development, overuse injuries, early burnout and early
retirement from sport and physical activity.
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Developmental Age
Young athletes may be early, average or late
matures in a range of physical, mental, cognitive
and emotional qualities. It is essential to base athletic
training on developmental age, not on chronological
age. All too often, early matures are identified for special
attention and development, while it is the late matures
who may have the greater potential to become top
athletes. It is also important to recognize that the early
physical matures may not be mentally or emotionally
prepared for the challenges they appear ready to take on.
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Trainability
Trainability is the responsiveness of
individuals to training at different stages of
growth and maturation. Windows of optimal trainability
for the “S’s” of Stamina, Strength, Speed, Skill and
Suppleness occur at different times—for example, stamina
and strength trainability is linked to developmental age,
while speed, skill and suppleness (flexibility) are linked to
chronological age.
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Physical, Cognitive, Mental
and Emotional Development
A holistic approach to athlete development,
considering all of these factors, is required for the
best results. In addition to the five “S’s” of physical
development, five additional “S’s” including Structure/
stature (body type and growth), Psychology, Sustenance
(adequate nutrition, hydration and rest), Schooling (and
stress), and Sociocultural factors must be considered.
At any stage, over-emphasis on physical training and
winning may not equip the athlete for the challenges of
high performance or for life outside sport. Developing
the whole athlete, including character, ethics, and so on,
should be the objective of every program.
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