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What is Long-Term Player Development?
What is the best way for a player to develop?
Long-Term Athlete Development is a development squash and/or other racquet sports. As a result, the
framework designed to answer that question. LTAD framework for youth entry and development has
is a new wave in athlete development, based not been extensively developed, but as the sport
on the integration of sport science research with grows it is likely that more, younger players will be
experience in working with players and coaches attracted to Pickleball.
to develop a comprehensive set of development
principles. LTAD takes the concept of periodization A key LTPD premise is that participants will not
(the integration of competition, training, recovery, only be more successful in sport, but healthier
nutrition, and other elements of preparation to throughout life if they develop “physical literacy”
create a long-term training plan) to the next at a young age – a wide range of skills that include
level, by integrating preparation over an entire movement, balance, throwing, catching, hitting,
career or lifetime, and considering the holistic etc. The development of sound physical literacy
development of the individual as well as his/her skills, followed by ongoing learning and training
development as a player. Today, every Canadian introduced during “windows of optimal trainability”
sport organization is using LTAD as the basis for keyed to developmental ages and stages, is
their long-term planning. More information can be necessary for any athlete to reach his or her full
found in the document “Canadian Sport for Life”, potential. Missing a step, or introducing the “5 S’s”
as well as other LTAD resource papers available at (stamina, strength, speed, skill and suppleness) too
www.sportforlife.ca. early or late, restricts the athlete’s potential and
makes reaching the highest levels of performance
In Pickleball, following the example of some other more difficult. This is just as important for adult-
sports, we will use the phrase “Long-Term Player entry players, who may have to improve skills and
Development” or LTPD for this framework. Pickleball abilities later than the “optimal windows”. However,
players can enter the sport at any age, but have by understanding the 10 Key Factors of LTPD,
tended to enter in adulthood. In many cases players coaches can help players of any age participate
take up the sport after participating in tennis, and achieve their aspirations more effectively.
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