LTAD establishes a clear pathway from starting ultimate to long-term success and being ultimate for life. LTAD works as a planning tool for coaches, ultimate players, or local affiliates and clubs. Not all affiliates or clubs may be able to implement all aspects of LTAD, but they should serve as aspirational targets with the understanding that an athlete-centered approach will provide an environment for success.
Plan your ultimate journey.
When athletes have positive experiences, they remain engaged in sport longer and develop a life-long love of sport and physical activity. Long-term athlete development (LTAD) seeks to grow the athlete pool to develop lifetime players, future coaches, administrators, and supporters. In short, LTAD will provide:
- An athlete-centered model.
- Opportunities for young athletes to fulfill their potential.
- A guide for long-term growth and success of the sport.
- Age-appropriate practice/training/competition guidelines.
- A guide for success at the senior level.
Long-Term Athlete Development
Clear Pathway
Opportunities
Learn More
LTAD principles include opportunities for athletes of all ability levels, age-appropriate activities to develop basic and transferable motor skills in a fun and engaging environment, multisport participation, and quality coaching at all levels. When athletes have positive experiences, they remain engaged in sport longer and develop a life-long love of sport and physical activity. LTAD seeks to grow the athlete pool to develop future coaches, officials, administrators and supporters.
Provided by LTAD:
Learn More
LTAD will provide:
1) Athlete-centered model. 2) Opportunities for young athletes to fulfill their potential. 3) Guide for long-term growth and success of the sport. 4) Age-appropriate. practice/training/competition guidelines. 5) Guide to age-appropriate physical and mental development. 6) Long-term outlook for success at the senior level.
MANY PATHWAYS TO ACHIEVE
There are many pathways for participants to take to achieve their potential; their path is rarely straight.
Participant A might stay in one of their first sport from entry right through to World Championships.
Participant B starts in a different sport or begins their journey later, then during adolescence finds the sport they pursue to the highest levels.
Participant C starts with A having early success in one sport, then focuses on another sport before returning to focus on their first love.
Participant D achieves a high level of success in one sport but then transfers to another sport, which results in having to go back through stages of development before succeeding in their new sport.
Participant E becomes involved in many sports, never pursuing or advancing into the Train to Train stage, but has quality experiences and is active for life.
Participant F becomes aware of opportunities later in life, then through a positive first involvement becomes active for life.
Please note that the stage names used in this graphic differ from those used by USA Ultimate.
Stage Info Graphics
The links below provide summaries designed to give you some of the key elements in each stage of the LTAD model, based on your role:
1
Active Start
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents
2
FUNdamentals
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents
3
Learn to Play
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents
4
Train to Play
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents
5
Learn to Compete
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents
6
Train to Compete
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents
7
Train to Win
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents
8
Ultimate for Life
General | Coaches | Organizers | Parents