LTAD

Seven stages, one continuous development record.

Growth, maturation, physical literacy, training load, nutrition and wellbeing are interpreted together—not as a selection score, but as human-supervised development support.

Open my LTAD hub Scientific standards
01

Active Start

Play, fundamental movement and safe exploration

02

FUNdamentals

Running, jumping, throwing, catching and balance

03

Learn to Train

Skill acquisition and multi-sport experience

04

Train to Train

Growth-spurt-aware load and recovery

05

Learn to Compete

Sport-specific development and competition literacy

06

Train to Win

Advanced performance, health and sustainability

07

Active for Life

Long-term health, participation and movement habits

Safety and consent by design

Family consent, role-based access, data reliability grades and clinical red flags frame every recommendation.

What LTAD means here

A development conversation, not an athlete ranking.

The stage is a working hypothesis built from age, growth pattern, maturation context, movement competence, training history, recovery, health, motivation and the child’s own goals. No single measurement automatically advances or removes a child from a pathway.

Signals considered together

  • Growth and maturation
  • Movement and sport skills
  • Health and red flags
  • Training and match load
  • Sleep, nutrition and recovery
  • Motivation and child voice

Shared responsibilities

Five roles see the same child through different, limited permissions.

Child

Shares goals, enjoyment and how the plan feels.

Family

Manages consent, routines and the longitudinal record.

Teacher

Adds school-context observations within permission.

Coach

Plans age-appropriate practice, load and recovery.

Clinician

Evaluates health boundaries and clinical red flags.

Evidence and review boundaries

These sources define a general framework, not a prescription for an individual child. Sport-specific dosage, competition targets and transition criteria remain versioned, locally adaptable and subject to Science Board plus Field Board approval.

Last editorial review: 30 July 2026