ltad ottawa2014
TRANSCRIPT
British Swimming – 2012 -14
The Swimmer Support Pathway
Review, Evaluation, Key Findings and
Implementation Strategy
- Ian Freeman – ASA/British Swimming -
Coaching Systems - Research, Training and Development
LTAD and Sport Science
A 10 Year Journey of Change
• Early adopter of LTAD – No previous model.
• Background and evolution of the LTAD Change
Management Programme from 2002
• Progress and lessons learned to date
• Driving forward changes and innovations within our
coaching system
• Embedded into wider NGB programmes - improving
participation, skill development and performance at all
levels
Post London 2012 “Disappointing!”
• Extensive Review - ALL systems
• Coaching
• Talent ID
• Talent Development
• Club Structure
• Coach Education
• Athlete Pathway and Implementation
Strengths
- A well researched, (evidence based) structured, lifelong
participant development model
- World Class performances have improved
- Size and quality of the talent pool increased
- Beijing Olympics – ‘first real LTAD generation’ - Significant
performance improvements
- LTAD embedded in Teacher / Coach / Tutor education system
- Athlete centred – Coach and Performance Driven (thanks Istvan!)
- Elite swimmers - competing longer at the highest level -
Average age 22.2 years (23.9 (Men); 20.4 (Women))
- Coaches (LTCD), parents, administrators and athletes have a
better long-term outlook
Constraints • Is a more ‘holistic’ approach required?
• The current ASA LTAD model may require even more flexibility in
design and delivery
• Current ASA LTAD model is perceived by some as too
complicated
• Some still think that the model must be followed literally, without
consideration for individual athlete needs
• Lack of Teacher / Coach, athlete, parent, club and NGB
understanding of the model. Is the model still not being applied
as effectively as it could be?
• Some Coaches just don’t like change!
Opportunities LTAD as ‘The Swimmer Pathway’ – (we were) non-holistic in
design, overly scientific and non-user friendly
Develop simple tools to help parents, Teachers / Coaches,
athletes and clubs to better identify stages of development
athlete’s are in
e.g. online resources - E-learning (coaching iLearns) and enhanced CPD
Use the most appropriate components of LTAD and aspects of
other models e.g. DMSP, Morley’s Model of Talent Development
Better alignment of Club (swim21) categories
More Opportunities
Collect raw data from participating nations in the following
areas:
- International success at age group levels and gender specific
medals, records, national times, etc
- Retention rates at each stage of development
- The ‘culture’ of coaching and the training environment
The Ultimate Goal:
To base more training and competition structure on indicators of
biological development
To truly embed the model into the delivery system of the sport
Research • System-wide implementation
- ALL key staff need to understand, support, promote the model
• Teacher / Coach workforce needs to continuously support and
promote LTAD
• Coaches losing focus on coaching ‘the whole athlete’
• Not collecting sufficient, relevant longitudinal data
• Not monitoring the effectiveness of the model over a period of
time
• The model still being perceived as too complex
The Immediate Future
• A reviewed, re-modelled / re-branded and re-launched Swimmer
Support Pathway model.
• Blending key aspects from existing LTAD practice with more
holistic guiding principles
• Simple, accessible education tools - to identify stages of
development and what coach/athlete key motivators are
• To promote the athlete inventory to help guide coaches in how to
they implement key measurements and how often
• To pilot the design and delivery of competition structures based
on stages of development