In this Portal you will find resources and information on Long Term Player Development.
also known as LTPD or LTAD Long Term Athletic Development.
What is LTPD?
Hockey Canada describes LTPD as simply "a framework to maximize a players
potential and long term involvement in sport over the course of their life"
As Parents and Coaches we need to understand what characteristics effect LTPD
and how we can take advantage of them throughout the development stages
The 4 Characteristics of LTPD
1. Technical Development
Some coaches are better than others when it comes to technical development. The
good news is you don't need to play professional hockey to teach the basic technical
skills required for young hockey players like skating, passing, shooting and checking.
2. Tactical Development
Tactical development has 2 components, Individual and Team. Hockey Canada
describes Individual Tactics as "action by a single player using a combination of
technical skills in order to create or take away the advantage of an opponent" and
Team Tactics as "action by two or more players using a combination of technical
skills in order to create or take away the advantage of an opponent".
The most important thing to recognize here is that as a coach you will never achieve
proper tactical execution with un-developed technical skills.
3. Physiological Development
Heredity - inherit traits passed down from family
Chronological age - Actual years and days since birth
Environment - daily exposure beyond average exposure elsewhere
remember teammates on any given year can sometimes be as far as 2 chronological
years apart. in terms of bone mass and strength there could be a major difference.
4. Psychological Development
This is the development of mental, cognitive and emotional maturity. It is very
important as a coach to understand the age group you are teaching. The capacity
and the degree in which your players will be able to learn and understand will be
effected by the state of their psychological development.
In closing as you look through these characteristics you will see how important
they are to each other. Each one developed at different rates and at different times,
all of them effected by one another and each with there own special importance to
the long term development and health of your athlete.
Farming Athletes At U10
"Help, My Child is a Late Bloomer"
"OMHA Ontario Minor Hockey Association and Bauer Hockey Introduce 30/30 Challenge"
Parents looking for a great way for your young athletes to develop their physical
literacy skills. Check out OMHA's 30/30 challenge. This is a great at-home dryland
program for all ages that is fun and puts emphasis on the ABC's of hockey (Agility,
Balance and Coordination)